Blinded by the Light: Artificial Light Lowers Mate Attraction Success in Female Glow-Worms (<i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> L.)
Nocturnal light pollution from anthropogenic origin is increasing worldwide and is recognised as a major threat for nocturnal biodiversity. We studied the impact of artificial light on the mate attraction success of female common glow-worms (<i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> L.) by daily monitor...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/8/734 |
| _version_ | 1827685095325040640 |
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| author | Mira Van den Broeck Raphaël De Cock Stefan Van Dongen Erik Matthysen |
| author_facet | Mira Van den Broeck Raphaël De Cock Stefan Van Dongen Erik Matthysen |
| author_sort | Mira Van den Broeck |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nocturnal light pollution from anthropogenic origin is increasing worldwide and is recognised as a major threat for nocturnal biodiversity. We studied the impact of artificial light on the mate attraction success of female common glow-worms (<i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> L.) by daily monitoring their glowing status in the field, acting as a proxy for mating status throughout the mating season. We found that females in dark surroundings typically stopped glowing after one night, indicating that they had mated, while females in illuminated areas glowed for significantly more nights, in some cases up to 15 nights. Our study confirms previous findings and hypotheses that females exposed to artificial light suffer from a reduced mate attraction success with a negative impact on populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:43:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b20ea7fa00e54bd8b5bb378d48d790a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:43:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-b20ea7fa00e54bd8b5bb378d48d790a42023-11-22T08:07:46ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502021-08-0112873410.3390/insects12080734Blinded by the Light: Artificial Light Lowers Mate Attraction Success in Female Glow-Worms (<i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> L.)Mira Van den Broeck0Raphaël De Cock1Stefan Van Dongen2Erik Matthysen3Evolutionary Ecology Group, Campus Drie Eiken, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, B-2610 Antwerp, BelgiumEvolutionary Ecology Group, Campus Drie Eiken, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, B-2610 Antwerp, BelgiumEvolutionary Ecology Group, Campus Drie Eiken, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, B-2610 Antwerp, BelgiumEvolutionary Ecology Group, Campus Drie Eiken, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, B-2610 Antwerp, BelgiumNocturnal light pollution from anthropogenic origin is increasing worldwide and is recognised as a major threat for nocturnal biodiversity. We studied the impact of artificial light on the mate attraction success of female common glow-worms (<i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> L.) by daily monitoring their glowing status in the field, acting as a proxy for mating status throughout the mating season. We found that females in dark surroundings typically stopped glowing after one night, indicating that they had mated, while females in illuminated areas glowed for significantly more nights, in some cases up to 15 nights. Our study confirms previous findings and hypotheses that females exposed to artificial light suffer from a reduced mate attraction success with a negative impact on populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/8/734<i>Lampyris noctiluca</i>glow-wormslight pollutionmate attractionfemale mating success |
| spellingShingle | Mira Van den Broeck Raphaël De Cock Stefan Van Dongen Erik Matthysen Blinded by the Light: Artificial Light Lowers Mate Attraction Success in Female Glow-Worms (<i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> L.) Insects <i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> glow-worms light pollution mate attraction female mating success |
| title | Blinded by the Light: Artificial Light Lowers Mate Attraction Success in Female Glow-Worms (<i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> L.) |
| title_full | Blinded by the Light: Artificial Light Lowers Mate Attraction Success in Female Glow-Worms (<i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> L.) |
| title_fullStr | Blinded by the Light: Artificial Light Lowers Mate Attraction Success in Female Glow-Worms (<i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> L.) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blinded by the Light: Artificial Light Lowers Mate Attraction Success in Female Glow-Worms (<i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> L.) |
| title_short | Blinded by the Light: Artificial Light Lowers Mate Attraction Success in Female Glow-Worms (<i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> L.) |
| title_sort | blinded by the light artificial light lowers mate attraction success in female glow worms i lampyris noctiluca i l |
| topic | <i>Lampyris noctiluca</i> glow-worms light pollution mate attraction female mating success |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/8/734 |
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