Introduction of artificial light at night increases the abundance of predators, scavengers, and parasites in arthropod communities

ABSTRACT: Summary While recent studies explore the negative impacts of light pollution on arthropods, few studies investigated community-level responses to artificial light. Using an array of landscaping lights and pitfall traps, we track community composition over 15 consecutive days and nights, including a five-night pre-light period, a five-night during-light period, and a five-night post-light period. Our results highlight a trophic-level response to artificial nighttime lighting with shifts in the presence and abundance of predators, scavengers, parasites, and herbivores. We show that associated trophic shifts occurred immediately upon the introduction of artificial light at night and are limited to nocturnal communities. Lastly, trophic levels reverted to their pre-light state, suggesting many

SUBMITTER: Brown J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9982679 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature