Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1111/gcb.14008
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Title (Primary) Declines in moth populations stress the need for conserving dark nights
Author van Langevelde, F.; Braamburg-Annegarn, M.; Huigens, M.E.; Groendijk, R.; Poitevin, O.; van Deijk, J.R.; Ellis, W.N.; van Grunsven, R.H.A.; de Vos, R.; Vos, R.A.; Franzén, M.; WallisDeVries, M.F.
Source Titel Global Change Biology
Year 2018
Department BZF
Volume 24
Issue 3
Page From 925
Page To 932
Language englisch
Supplements https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1111%2Fgcb.14008&attachmentId=2182166414
Keywords artificial light at night; ecological traits; ecology of the night; Lepidoptera; light pollution; phototaxis
UFZ wide themes RU1;
Abstract Given the global continuous rise, artificial light at night is often considered a driving force behind moth population declines. Although negative effects on individuals have been shown, there is no evidence for effects on population sizes to date. Therefore, we compared population trends of Dutch macromoth fauna over the period 1985–2015 between moth species that differ in phototaxis and adult circadian rhythm. We found that moth species that show positive phototaxis or are nocturnally active have stronger negative population trends than species that are not attracted to light or are diurnal species. Our results indicate that artificial light at night is an important factor in explaining declines in moth populations in regions with high artificial night sky brightness. Our study supports efforts to reduce the impacts of artificial light at night by promoting lamps that do not attract insects and reduce overall levels of illumination in rural areas to reverse declines of moth populations.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=20003
van Langevelde, F., Braamburg-Annegarn, M., Huigens, M.E., Groendijk, R., Poitevin, O., van Deijk, J.R., Ellis, W.N., van Grunsven, R.H.A., de Vos, R., Vos, R.A., Franzén, M., WallisDeVries, M.F. (2018):
Declines in moth populations stress the need for conserving dark nights
Glob. Change Biol. 24 (3), 925 - 932 10.1111/gcb.14008