The duration of artificial light defines sexual signalling in the common glow-worm
Elgert, Christina; Lehtonen, Topi K.; Kaitala, Arja; Candolin, Ulrika (2021-10-18)
Elgert, C., Lehtonen, T.K., Kaitala, A. et al. The duration of artificial light defines sexual signalling in the common glow-worm. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 75, 154 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-021-03093-2
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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2021111254960
Tiivistelmä
Abstract
Artificial light at night is increasing globally, interfering with both sensory ecology and temporal rhythms of organisms, from zooplankton to mammals. This interference can change the behaviour of the affected organisms, and hence compromise the viability of their populations. Limiting the use of artificial light may mitigate these negative effects. Accordingly, we investigated whether the duration of artificial light affects sexual signalling in female glow-worms, Lampyris noctiluca, which are flightless and attract flying males to mate by emitting glow that is interfered by light pollution. The study included three treatments: no artificial light (control), 15 min of artificial light, and 45 min of artificial light. The results show that females were more likely to cease glowing when the exposure to light was longer. Furthermore, small females were more likely to cease their glow, and responded faster to the light, than larger females. These findings suggest that glow-worms can react rapidly to anthropogenic changes in nocturnal light levels, and that prolonged periods of artificial light trigger females to stop sexual signalling. Thus, limiting the duration of artificial light can mitigate the adverse effects of light pollution on sexual signalling, highlighting the importance of such mitigation measures.
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