Effects of nocturnal illumination on life-history decisions and fitness in two wild songbird species.

ABSTRACT: The effects of artificial night lighting on animal behaviour and fitness are largely unknown. Most studies report short-term consequences in locations that are also exposed to other anthropogenic disturbance. We know little about how the effects of nocturnal illumination vary with different light colour compositions. This is increasingly relevant as the use of LED lights becomes more common, and LED light colour composition can be easily adjusted. We experimentally illuminated previously dark natural habitat with white, green and red light, and measured the effects on life-history decisions and fitness in two free-living songbird species, the great tit (Parus major) and pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) in two consecutive years. In 2013, but not in 2014, we found an effect of light trea

SUBMITTER: de Jong M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4375368 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature