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Light pollution forces a change in dung beetle orientation behavior.

James J Foster¹, Claudia Tocco², Jochen Smolka³

¹Zoology II, Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany; Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35B, 223 62 Lund, Sweden.

Current Biology : CB

|July 30, 2021

Summary

Global light pollution disrupts animal navigation by obscuring celestial cues. This forces nocturnal species like dung beetles to rely on artificial lights, hindering their dispersal and increasing competition.

Keywords:

ALAN navigation star compass vision

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Animal Behavior
Environmental Science

Background:

Increasing global light pollution threatens the natural night-time darkness essential for animal adaptation.
Light pollution negatively impacts animal behavior, disrupting migration and orientation in various species.
Many nocturnal animals rely on celestial cues like the moon, skylight polarization, and stars for navigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of authentic light pollution on celestial orientation in animals.
To compare the orientation behavior of dung beetles in light-polluted versus dark-sky environments.
To understand how light pollution affects the use of natural versus artificial light cues for navigation.

Main Methods:

Conducted behavioral experiments with dung beetles at both light-polluted and dark-sky sites.
Quantified light pollution levels using photographic measurements at experimental locations.
Observed and analyzed changes in dung beetle orientation behavior in response to different lighting conditions.

Main Results:

Light pollution significantly obscures natural celestial cues, impacting nocturnal navigation.
Dung beetle orientation behavior dramatically changed, with a shift from celestial to artificial light sources.
Animals were attracted to artificial lights, leading to increased competition and reduced dispersal efficiency.

Conclusions:

Authentic light pollution disrupts celestial orientation in nocturnal animals.
The reliance on artificial lights due to light pollution can have significant negative ecological consequences for species dispersal and survival.
Further research is needed to understand the full impact on migratory species and other nocturnal animals.