Marine artificial light at night: An empirical and technical guide

Stuart R Jenkins,David Wilcockson,Elizabeth Talbot,Stephen Widdicombe,Thomas W Davies,Svenja Tidau,Ana M Queirós,Cecilia D’Angelo,David Mckee,Adam Wright,Jörg Wiedenmann,Tim Smyth,Amy Ellison,Andrew J Grimmer

doi:10.1111/2041-210x.13653

Abstract

Abstract The increasing illumination of our world by artificial light at night (ALAN) has created a new field of global change research with impacts now being demonstrated across taxa, biological ranks and spatial scales. Following advances in terrestrial ecology, marine ALAN has become a rapidly growing research area attracting scientists from across all biomes. Technological limitations, complexities of researching many coastal and marine ecosystems and the interdisciplinary nature of ALAN research present numerous challenges. Drawing on expertise from optical oceanographers, modellers, community ecologists, experimental and molecular biologists, we share practical advice and solutions that have proven useful for marine ALAN research. Discussing lessons learnt early on can help in the effective and efficient development of a field. The guide follows a sensory ecology approach to marine light pollution and consolidates physics, ecology and biology. First, we introduce marine lightscapes highlighting how these differ from terrestrial ones and provide an overview of biological adaptations to them. Second, we discuss study design and technology to best quantify ALAN exposure of and impacts on marine and coastal organisms including molecular tools and approaches to scale‐up marine ALAN research. We conclude that the growing field of marine ALAN research presents opportunities not only for improving our understanding of this globally widespread stressor, but also for advancing fundamental marine photobiology, chronobiology and night‐time ecology. Interdisciplinary research will be essential to gain insights into natural marine lightscapes shaping the ecology and evolution coastal and marine ecosystems.

Highlights

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a rapidly expanding form of human-induced environmental change altering environments at an unprecedented pace and scale (Sih et al, 2011)
ALAN exposure of marine and coastal ecosystems is likely to be further amplified by the societal transition towards energy efficient, broadband Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) (Zissis & Bertoldi, 2018)
Marine light pollution has become a dynamic, fast evolving research field with impacts being documented for an increasing range of biological responses and taxa at different spatial scales (Figure 1, Table S1)

Summary

Introduction

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a rapidly expanding form of human-induced environmental change altering environments at an unprecedented pace and scale (Sih et al, 2011). Marine light pollution has become a dynamic, fast evolving research field with impacts being documented for an increasing range of biological responses and taxa at different spatial scales (Figure 1, Table S1). Evolutionary adaptations of coastal and marine organisms to light cycles, intensity and spectra manifest themselves in various morphological, molecular, physiological and behavioural traits influencing populations, communities and ecosystems.

Results

Conclusion