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Artificial light at night (ALAN) is increasing in extent and intensity across the globe. It has been shown to interfere with animal sensory systems, orientation and distribution, with the potential to cause significant ecological impacts. We analysed the locations of 102 mountain lions (Puma concolor) in a light-polluted region in California. We modelled their distribution relative to environmental and human-disturbance variables, including upward radiance (nearby lights), zenith brightness (sky glow) and natural illumination from moonlight. We found that mountain lion probability of presence was highly related to upward radiance, that is, related to lights within approximately 500 m. Despite a general pattern of avoidance of locations with high upward radiance, there were large differences in degree of avoidance among individuals. The amount of light from artificial sky glow was not influential when included together with upward radiance in the models, and illumination from moonlight was not influential at all. Our results suggest that changes in visibility associated with lunar cycles and sky glow are less important for mountain lions in their selection of light landscapes than avoiding potential interactions with humans represented by the presence of nearby lights on the ground. This article is part of the theme issue 'Light pollution in complex ecological systems'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fugitive dust emissions play an important role in urban air quality. Much research on fugitive dust's effects has focused on human health and societal impacts, with limited work investigating effects on other species. The endangered Apodemia mormo langei butterfly is endemic to the Antioch Dunes, a small area on the south bank of the San Joaquin River in northern California, largely protected as a National Wildlife Refuge. Between the two protected portions of the dunes is a gypsum processing facility. Deposition of gypsum dust may adversely affect endangered insects, especially in their vulnerable larval life stage. Persistent westerly winds blow from the western section of the refuge, across the industrial facility, to the eastern protected dune area. Ambient particulate matter (PM) was collected at 30 sites in both sections of the refuge using passive samplers deployed at times matching the butterfly life cycle. The prevailing wind maintained upwind-downwind sampling orientation throughout the study. PM samples were analyzed for total mass, and elemental composition via X-ray fluorescence. Downwind concentrations of gypsum-related elements were between 4 (strontium) and 12 (sulfur) times higher than upwind loadings, suggesting deposition of PM from the gypsum facility. The effect of fugitive emissions was strongest at the industrial facility's fenceline, closest to a conveyor belt that loads gypsum. Combined with documented reductions in insect larval longevity when exposed to gypsum dust, the results suggest that gypsum deposition may be affecting the ecosystem and endangered species in the downwind unit of the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge. Implications: Fugitive dust has impacts not only on humans, but on other organisms. The Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge (ADNWR) in California, set aside to protect the endangered Apodemia mormo langei butterfly, consists of two land units separated by a gypsum processing facility in between them. In this study, we demonstrate fugitive gypsum dust deposition on the downwind unit of the ADNWR, which may impact the endangered butterfly and its ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the domestic cat Felis catus is implicated in multiple faunal extinctions and threatens many extant species, there is widespread, well‐funded advocacy for desexing unowned cats near human habitation and returning them to site to be fed by volunteers, arguing that this prevents euthanasia, is unlikely to be hazardous to wildlife or a public health risk, and controls non‐native rodents. To the contrary, we present unequivocal evidence that this approach harms cat welfare, does threaten wildlife and public health, and exacerbates rather than controls rodent problems. We argue instead that unowned cats near human habitation can be controlled effectively by intensive adoption and responsible euthanasia when necessary, supported by licensing and containment of adopted/owned cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to archaeological records, chickpea (Cicer arietinum) was first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent about 10,000 years BP. Its subsequent diversification in Middle East, South Asia, Ethiopia, and the Western Mediterranean, however, remains obscure and cannot be resolved using only archeological and historical evidence. Moreover, chickpea has two market types: "desi" and "kabuli," for which the geographic origin is a matter of debate. To decipher chickpea history, we took the genetic data from 421 chickpea landraces unaffected by the green revolution and tested complex historical hypotheses of chickpea migration and admixture on two hierarchical spatial levels: within and between major regions of cultivation. For chickpea migration within regions, we developed popdisp, a Bayesian model of population dispersal from a regional representative center toward the sampling sites that considers geographical proximities between sites. This method confirmed that chickpea spreads within each geographical region along optimal geographical routes rather than by simple diffusion and estimated representative allele frequencies for each region. For chickpea migration between regions, we developed another model, migadmi, that takes allele frequencies of populations and evaluates multiple and nested admixture events. Applying this model to desi populations, we found both Indian and Middle Eastern traces in Ethiopian chickpea, suggesting the presence of a seaway from South Asia to Ethiopia. As for the origin of kabuli chickpeas, we found significant evidence for its origin from Turkey rather than Central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only two-thirds of Americans meet the recommended 7 hours of sleep nightly. Insufficient sleep and circadian disruption have been associated with adverse health outcomes, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Several environmental disruptors of sleep have been reported, such as artificial light at night (ALAN) and noise. These studies tended to evaluate exposures individually. We evaluated several spatially derived environmental exposures (ALAN, noise, green space, and air pollution) and self-reported sleep outcomes obtained in 2012–2015 in a large cohort of 51,562 women in the California Teachers Study. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for sleep duration and latency. After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, chronotype, use of sleep medication, and self-reported trouble sleeping, ALAN (per 5 millicandela (mcd)/m2 luminance, OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.20) and air pollution (per 5 μg/m3 PM2.5, OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.09) were associated with shorter sleep duration (<7 hours), and noise was associated with longer latency (>15 minutes) (per 10 decibels, OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.10). Green space was associated with increased duration (per 0.1 units, OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.60) and decreased latency (per 0.1 units, OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.78). Further research is necessary to understand how these and other exposures (e.g. diet) perturb an individuals' inherited sleep patterns and contribute to downstream health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Misunderstanding the free-ranging cat issue: Response to Debrot et al. 2022 As authors of the original works calling attention to the need to understand trap-neuter-release (TNR) in conservation biology (Lepczyk et al., 2010; Longcore et al., 2009) as well as having collectively worked on issues surrounding feral and free-ranging cats for over 50 years, we appreciate the renewed interest in the topic. However, and perhaps most notably, pro-outdoor cat organizations are uninterested in working with conservation interests on management and policy to reduce the number of free-ranging cats as we all have witnessed firsthand. [Extracted from the article]

New infrastructure development in previously natural environments is introducing light pollution to habitats at an unprecedented rate, which has the potential to be devastating for native insect assemblages.We evaluated insect attraction to three lamp types emitting different spectra of light (white, yellow‐filtered and amber‐filtered ~3000 K LED lamps) and an unlit control in a lowland forest site in the northern Peruvian Amazon previously naïve to artificial illumination.Lamp type was the only variable included in the most parsimonious models explaining morphospecies richness and abundance for all insects combined and for eight different insect orders. White lamps (3200 K) attracted far more insects, both morphospecies and individuals, including groups containing important vectors of pathogens, bacteria or parasites, than either yellow (2700 K) or amber (2200 K) lamps.Amber lamps attracted the fewest morphospecies and individuals overall but were the most attractive for a limited group of insects, including elaterid beetles (click beetles) and mycetophilid flies (fungus flies).While period of night was not a significant predictor of morphospecies richness or abundance, different assemblages of insects were collected during two different sampling periods (18:00–20:00 and 03:00–05:00).We strongly recommend that new infrastructure development projects introducing ALAN to light‐naïve tropical forests use filtered amber LED lamps with no blue and minimal green light content in outdoor lighted areas. Similarly, operators should develop outdoor lighting plans that include overall reduction of nocturnal lighting and impact mitigation measures. These recommendations should also be used to retrofit existing infrastructure including roads and human settlements. El desarrollo de nuevas infraestructuras en entornos previamente naturales está introduciendo contaminación lumínica en esos hábitats a una taza sin precedentes, la cual tiene el potencial de ser particularmente devastadora para las comunidades de insectos nativos.Evaluamos la atracción de insectos a tres tipos de lámparas que emiten diferentes espectros de luz (lámparas LED blancas de ~3000K sin filtro, con un filtro amarillo y con un filtro ámbar para limitar o eliminar los espectros azules de luz emitidos) y un control sin luz en un sitio de bosque bajo en el norte de la Amazonía peruana, previamente sin iluminación artificial.El tipo de lámpara fue la única variable incluida en los modelos más parsimonicos que explican la riqueza y abundancia de morfoespecies para todos los insectos combinados y para ocho órdenes diferentes de insectos. Las lámparas blancas (3200K) atrajeron muchos más insectos, morfoespecies e individuos, incluyendo grupos conocidos por contener vectores importantes de patógenos, bacterias o parásitos, que las lámparas de color amarillo (2700K) o ámbar (2200K).Las lámparas ámbar atrajeron la menor cantidad de morfoespecies e individuos en general, pero fueron las luces más atractivas para un grupo limitado de insectos, incluyendo a los escarabajos elatéridos (escarabajos clic) y las moscas micetofílidas (moscas de los hongos).Si bien el período de la noche no fue un predictor significativo de la riqueza o abundancia de morfoespecies, se colectaron diferentes ensamblajes de insectos durante los dos períodos de muestreo (18: 00‐20: 00 y 03: 00‐05: 00).Recomendamos enfáticamente que los nuevos proyectos de desarrollo de infraestructura que introduzcan ALAN a bosques sin luces artificiales utilicen luces LED con filtro ámbar sin espectro azul y muy poco espectro verde en áreas iluminadas al aire libre. Del mismo modo, los operadores deben desarrollar un plan de iluminación al aire libre que incluya la reducción general de la iluminación nocturna y métodos de mitigación de impactos. Estas recomendaciones también deben usarse para modernizar la infraestructura existente, incluidas las carreteras y los asentamientos humanos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluates the CITYgreen software (urban ecosystem analysis software) that calculates the positives of trees and green space relying on geographic representation of a study area. The report states in conclusion that CITYgreen software can analyze singular family dwellings that are devoid of densely populated urban neighborhood.

Formany decades, the spectral composition of lighting was determined by the type of lamp, which also influenced potential effects of outdoor lights on species and ecosystems. Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps have dramatically increased the range of spectral profiles of light that is economically viable for outdoor lighting. Because of the array of choices, it is necessary to develop methods to predict the effects of different spectral profiles without conducting field studies, especially because older lighting systems are being replaced rapidly. We describe an approach to predict responses of exemplar organisms and groups to lamps of different spectral output by calculating an index based on action spectra from behavioral or visual characteristics of organisms and lamp spectral irradiance. We calculate relative response indices for a range of lamp types and light sources and develop an index that identifies lamps that minimize predicted effects as measured by ecological, physiological, and astronomical indices. Using these assessment metrics, filtered yellow-green and amber LEDs are predicted to have lower effects on wildlife than high pressure sodium lamps, while blue-rich lighting (e.g., K = 2200) would have greater effects. The approach can be updated with new information about behavioral or visual responses of organisms and used to test new lighting products based on spectrum. Together with control of intensity, direction, and duration, the approach can be used to predict and then minimize the adverse effects of lighting and can be tailored to individual species or taxonomic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation geneticists have argued that evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) must be both genetically distinct and adaptively significant to be recognized for conservation protection. High-throughput DNA approaches can greatly increase the power to identify genetic distinctiveness, even if inferring adaptive significance remains a challenge. Here we present the first genomic evaluation of Lange’s metalmark, Apodemia mormo langei (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), a U.S. federally endangered subspecies restricted to sand dune habitats in a single National Wildlife Refuge in California. Previous work based on very few genetic markers detected little genetic distinction for Lange’s metalmark. We use several thousand genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms to characterize the population structure of the A. mormo complex across California and determine if Lange’s metalmark qualifies as an ESU. We found that Lange’s metalmark is genetically identifiable, but is no more distinct than many other isolated populations across the study area. It remains unclear whether this genetic variation is adaptive, and so conservation efforts would benefit from more ecological characterization to determine conservation priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light sources attract nocturnal flying insects, but some lamps attract more insects than others. The relation between the properties of a light source and the number of attracted insects is, however, poorly understood. We developed a model to quantify the attractiveness of light sources based on the spectral output. This model is fitted using data from field experiments that compare a large number of different light sources. We validated this model using two additional datasets, one for all insects and one excluding the numerous Diptera. Our model facilitates the development and application of light sources that attract fewer insects without the need for extensive field tests and it can be used to correct for spectral composition when formulating hypotheses on the ecological impact of artificial light. In addition, we present a tool allowing the conversion of the spectral output of light sources to their relative insect attraction based on this model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]