Abstract
As human populations grow and lighting technologies improve, artificial light gradually alters natural cycles of light and dark that have been consistent over long periods of geological and evolutionary time. While considerable ecological implications of artificial light have been identified in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats, knowledge about the physiological and molecular effects of light pollution is vague. To determine if ecological light pollution (ELP) impacts coral biological processes, we characterized the transcriptome of the coral Acropora eurystoma under two different light regimes: control conditions and treatment with light at night. Here we show that corals exposed to ELP have approximately 25 times more differentially expressed genes that regulate cell cycle, cell proliferation, cell growth, protein synthesis and display changes in photo physiology. The finding of this work confirms that ELP acts as a chronic disturbance that may impact the future of coral reefs.
Highlights
As human populations grow and lighting technologies improve, artificial light gradually alters natural cycles of light and dark that have been consistent over long periods of geological and evolutionary time
Our results show the effect of ecological light pollution (ELP) on corals gene expression, causing elevated differentially expressed genes in corals under light treatment that cluster into pathways regulating cell cycle and protein synthesis
All Chlorophyll parameters were significantly different between the groups and had higher concentrations in the ELP samples, total Chl-a concentration normalized to symbiont cell, total Chl-c2 concentration normalized to symbiont cell and total Chl-a concentration normalized to surface area (Fig. 1c–e)
Summary
As human populations grow and lighting technologies improve, artificial light gradually alters natural cycles of light and dark that have been consistent over long periods of geological and evolutionary time. To determine if ecological light pollution (ELP) impacts coral biological processes, we characterized the transcriptome of the coral Acropora eurystoma under two different light regimes: control conditions and treatment with light at night. Most organisms have developed an endogenous clock that allows them to anticipate daily and seasonal changes and adapt their physiological, behavioral, and biochemical activity [3,4]. It is agreed that most organisms anticipate environmental changes using the solar and lunar cycle and the disruption of these rhythms due to artificial lighting has major implications on timing of reproduction, migration, feeding, foraging, sleeping, and activity that can all lead lower chances of survival[6]. Rapid global increase in artificial light at night (ALAN) has been proposed to be a new threat to terrestrial and marine ecosystems
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