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Avoidance of different durations, colours and intensities of artificial light by adult seabirds.

ABSTRACT: There is increasing evidence for impacts of light pollution on the physiology and behaviour of wild animals. Nocturnally active Procellariiform seabirds are often found grounded in areas polluted by light and struggle to take to the air again without human intervention. Hence, understanding their responses to different wavelengths and intensities of light is urgently needed to inform mitigation measures. Here, we demonstrate how different light characteristics can affect the nocturnal flight of Manx shearwaters Puffinus puffinus by experimentally introducing lights at a colony subject to low levels of light pollution due to passing ships and coastal developments. The density of birds in flight above the colony was measured using a thermal imaging camera. We compared number of flying shearwaters under dark conditions and in response to an artificially introduced light, and observed fewer birds in flight during 'light-on' periods, suggesting that adult shearwaters were repelled by the light. This effect was stronger with higher light intensity, increasing duration of 'light-on' periods and with green and blue compared to red light. Thus, we recommend lower light intensity, red colour, and shorter duration of 'light-on' periods as mitigation measures to reduce the effects of light at breeding colonies and in their vicinity.

SUBMITTER: Syposz M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8460786 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Avoidance of different durations, colours and intensities of artificial light by adult seabirds.

Syposz Martyna M Padget Oliver O Willis Jay J Van Doren Benjamin M BM Gillies Natasha N Fayet Annette L AL Wood Matt J MJ Alejo Aarón A Guilford Tim T

Scientific reports 20210923 1

There is increasing evidence for impacts of light pollution on the physiology and behaviour of wild animals. Nocturnally active Procellariiform seabirds are often found grounded in areas polluted by light and struggle to take to the air again without human intervention. Hence, understanding their responses to different wavelengths and intensities of light is urgently needed to inform mitigation measures. Here, we demonstrate how different light characteristics can affect the nocturnal flight of ...[more]

PMID: 34556717

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Project description:Fruit color is an important economic character of blueberry, determined by the amount of anthocyanin content. Anthocyanin synthesis within the blueberry fruits is significantly affected by light. To reveal the physiological response mechanism of anthocyanin synthesis in blueberry fruits in different light intensities, four light intensities (100% (CK), 75%, 50% and 25%) were set for the 'O'Neal' southern highbush blueberry as the experimental material in our study. The relationship between endogenous hormones content, associated enzyme activities, and variations with the anthocyanin content in blueberry fruits under various light intensities during the white fruit stage (S1), purple fruit stage (S2), and blue fruit stage (S3) were studied. The results showed that adequate light could significantly promote anthocyanin synthesis in blueberry fruits (P < 0.05). Blueberry fruits had an anthocyanin content that was 1.76~24.13 times higher under 100% light intensity than it was under non-full light intensity. Different light intensities significantly affected the content of endogenous hormones and the activity of associated enzymes in anthocyanin synthesis pathway (P < 0.05). Among them, the JA (jasmonic acid) content and PAL (phenylalanine ammonia lyase) activity of fruits under 100% light intensity were 2.49%~41.83% and 2.47%~48.48% higher than those under other light intensity, respectively. And a significant correlation was found between the variations in anthocyanin content in fruits and the content or activities of JA, ABA (abscisic acid), ETH (ethylene), GA3 (gibberellin 3), IAA (indoleacetic acid), PAL, CHI (chalcone isomerase), DFR (dihydroflavonol reductase) and UFGT (UDP-glucose: flavonoid 3-glucosyltransferase) (P < 0.05). It indicated that 100% light intensity significantly promoted anthocyanin synthesis in blueberry fruits by affecting endogenous hormones content and associated enzyme activities in the anthocyanin synthesis pathway. This study will lay a foundation for further research on the molecular mechanism of light intensity regulating anthocyanin synthesis in blueberry.

Project description:BackgroundSafflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a domesticated species with a long history of cultivation and widespread distribution across the globe, and light plays an important role in controlling its distribution boundary. Flowers from safflower have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine because of their ability to improve cerebral blood flow. Flavonoids are the main active compounds in safflower and have many pharmacological effects. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between different light intensities and flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers cultivated in greenhouse.MethodsThe transcriptome of safflower flowers grown under different light intensities were sequenced through BGISEQ-500 platform. After assembled and filtered, Unigenes were annotated by aligning with seven functional databases. Differential expression analysis of two samples was performed with the DEseq2 package. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related with flavonoids biosynthesis were analyzed by Real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Flavonoids accumulation in flowers were determined by high performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometer.ResultsTranscriptome analysis of safflower flowers cultivated under different light intensities was performed. A total of 99.16 Gb data were obtained, and 78,179 Unigenes were annotated. Among the DEGs, 13 genes were related to flavonoid biosynthesis. The differential expressions of seven key genes were confirmed by RT-PCR. In addition, the levels of some flavonoids were measured in safflower flowers grown under different light intensities. CtHCT3 gene expression showed a significantly negative correlation with kaempferol content in safflower grown under different light intensities.ConclusionOur results strongly suggested that the reduction in light intensity in a suitable range promoted flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower flowers. We suggest that the expressions of HCT genes played an important role in flavonoid accumulation in safflower flowers. Our study lays a foundation for further research on the effects of light on flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower.

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Avoidance of different durations, colours and intensities of artificial light by adult seabirds.

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Avoidance of different durations, colours and intensities of artificial light by adult seabirds.

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