1. Exposure to Artificial Light at Night and the Consequences for Flora, Fauna, and Ecosystems
- Author
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Dina Attia, David Hicks, Christophe Martinsons, Francine Behar-Cohen, Françoise Viénot, Jack Falcón, Claude Gronfier, Alicia Torriglia, Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université des Antilles (UA), Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers (CRC (UMR_S_1138 / U1138)), École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité), Direction de l'Evaluation des Risques (DER), Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (ANSES), Centre de Recherche sur la Conservation (CRC ), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (MCC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre de recherche en neurosciences de Lyon - Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne (UJM)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB), Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives (INCI), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université des Antilles (UA)-Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU), École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Université de Paris (UP), Centre de recherche en neurosciences de Lyon (CRNL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Université Jean Monnet [Saint-Étienne] (UJM)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), HAL-SU, Gestionnaire, and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,photoreception ,[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio] ,Fauna ,Foraging ,Circadian clock ,Light pollution ,Review ,Biology ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Natural (archaeology) ,lcsh:RC321-571 ,03 medical and health sciences ,Artificial-light ,artificial-light-at-night ,Ecosystem ,[SDV.NEU] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Neurons and Cognition [q-bio.NC] ,lcsh:Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry ,ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS ,030304 developmental biology ,anthropogenic impact ,0303 health sciences ,Artificial light ,Ecology ,General Neuroscience ,light-emitting-diodes ,MESH: Light ,Visual pigments ,13. Climate action ,[SDV.NEU]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Neurons and Cognition [q-bio.NC] ,ecosystems ,biological clocks ,Neuroscience - Abstract
International audience; The present review draws together wide-ranging studies performed over the last decades that catalogue the effects of artificial-light-at-night (ALAN) upon living species and their environment. We provide an overview of the tremendous variety of light-detection strategies which have evolved in living organisms - unicellular, plants and animals, covering chloroplasts (plants), and the plethora of ocular and extra-ocular organs (animals). We describe the visual pigments which permit photo-detection, paying attention to their spectral characteristics, which extend from the ultraviolet into infrared. We discuss how organisms use light information in a way crucial for their development, growth and survival: phototropism, phototaxis, photoperiodism, and synchronization of circadian clocks. These aspects are treated in depth, as their perturbation underlies much of the disruptive effects of ALAN. The review goes into detail on circadian networks in living organisms, since these fundamental features are of critical importance in regulating the interface between environment and body. Especially, hormonal synthesis and secretion are often under circadian and circannual control, hence perturbation of the clock will lead to hormonal imbalance. The review addresses how the ubiquitous introduction of light-emitting diode technology may exacerbate, or in some cases reduce, the generalized ever-increasing light pollution. Numerous examples are given of how widespread exposure to ALAN is perturbing many aspects of plant and animal behaviour and survival: foraging, orientation, migration, seasonal reproduction, colonization and more. We examine the potential problems at the level of individual species and populations and extend the debate to the consequences for ecosystems. We stress, through a few examples, the synergistic harmful effects resulting from the impacts of ALAN combined with other anthropogenic pressures, which often impact the neuroendocrine loops in vertebrates. The article concludes by debating how these anthropogenic changes could be mitigated by more reasonable use of available technology – for example by restricting illumination to more essential areas and hours, directing lighting to avoid wasteful radiation and selecting spectral emissions, to reduce impact on circadian clocks. We end by discussing how society should take into account the potentially major consequences that ALAN has on the natural world and the repercussions for ongoing human health and welfare.
- Published
- 2020