TY  - JOUR
A1  - Storms, Mona
A1  - Jakhar, Aryan
A1  - Mitesser, Oliver
A1  - Jechow, Andreas
A1  - Hölker, Franz
A1  - Degen, Tobias
A1  - Hovestadt, Thomas
A1  - Degen, Jacqueline
T1  - The rising moon promotes mate finding in moths
JF  - Communications Biology
N2  - To counteract insect decline, it is essential to understand the underlying causes, especially for key pollinators such as nocturnal moths whose ability to orientate can easily be influenced by ambient light conditions. These comprise natural light sources as well as artificial light, but their specific relevance for moth orientation is still unknown. We investigated the influence of moonlight on the reproductive behavior of privet hawkmoths (Sphinx ligustri) at a relatively dark site where the Milky Way was visible while the horizon was illuminated by distant light sources and skyglow. We show that male moths use the moon for orientation and reach females significantly faster with increasing moon elevation. Furthermore, the choice of flight direction depended on the cardinal position of the moon but not on the illumination of the horizon caused by artificial light, indicating that the moon plays a key role in the orientation of male moths.
KW  - animal behaviour
KW  - biodiversity
KW  - conservation biology
KW  - entomology
KW  - urban ecology
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-301365
VL  - 5
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Grubisic, Maja
A1  - Haim, Abraham
A1  - Bhusal, Pramod
A1  - Dominoni, Davide M.
A1  - Gabriel, Katharina M. A.
A1  - Jechow, Andreas
A1  - Kupprat, Franziska
A1  - Lerner, Amit
A1  - Marchant, Paul
A1  - Riley, William
A1  - Stebelova, Katarina
A1  - van Grunsven, Roy H. A.
A1  - Zeman, Michal
A1  - Zubidat, Abed E.
A1  - Hölker, Franz
T1  - Light Pollution, Circadian Photoreception, and Melatonin in Vertebrates
JF  - Sustainability
N2  - Artificial light at night (ALAN) is increasing exponentially worldwide, accelerated by the transition to new efficient lighting technologies. However, ALAN and resulting light pollution can cause unintended physiological consequences. In vertebrates, production of melatonin—the “hormone of darkness” and a key player in circadian regulation—can be suppressed by ALAN. In this paper, we provide an overview of research on melatonin and ALAN in vertebrates. We discuss how ALAN disrupts natural photic environments, its effect on melatonin and circadian rhythms, and different photoreceptor systems across vertebrate taxa. We then present the results of a systematic review in which we identified studies on melatonin under typical light-polluted conditions in fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, including humans. Melatonin is suppressed by extremely low light intensities in many vertebrates, ranging from 0.01–0.03 lx for fishes and rodents to 6 lx for sensitive humans. Even lower, wavelength-dependent intensities are implied by some studies and require rigorous testing in ecological contexts. In many studies, melatonin suppression occurs at the minimum light levels tested, and, in better-studied groups, melatonin suppression is reported to occur at lower light levels. We identify major research gaps and conclude that, for most groups, crucial information is lacking. No studies were identified for amphibians and reptiles and long-term impacts of low-level ALAN exposure are unknown. Given the high sensitivity of vertebrate melatonin production to ALAN and the paucity of available information, it is crucial to research impacts of ALAN further in order to inform effective mitigation strategies for human health and the wellbeing and fitness of vertebrates in natural ecosystems.
KW  - ALAN
KW  - artificial light at night
KW  - biological rhythm
KW  - circadian rhythm
KW  - melatonin
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-193095
SN  - 2071-1050
VL  - 11
IS  - 22
ER  -