Nighttime Light Pollution Alters Fish Behavior Across Generations
ECOLOGY
10/31/2024
Did you know that light pollution at night, especially blue spectrum light, can alter fish behaviour in just a few nights, with these behavioural changes impacting subsequent generations? This study, published in Science of The Total Environment in 2024, reveals significant findings. Researchers from the Max Planck Society conducted experiments on zebrafish (Danio rerio), using 10 different wavelength treatments over 10 days to observe the effects on movement and anxiety-related behaviours. The results showed that individuals and groups of zebrafish exposed to artificial light at night with blue spectrum light (365 to 470 nm) displayed anxiety-like behaviour more quickly, even within just a few nights, compared to other wavelengths. Moreover, F1 offspring of mothers exposed to artificial light at night also exhibited less frequent movement and shorter movement distances, despite never being exposed to artificial light themselves. These findings serve as a reminder of how human-induced light pollution can influence the behaviour of wildlife in their natural habitats. This study also offers important guidance on minimizing the harmful effects of light pollution, especially in the context of conservation efforts.
