ORCID
- Davies, Thomas: 0000-0002-4673-9893
Abstract
Increasing levels of Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) alter the natural diel cycles of organisms at global scale. ALAN constitutes a potential threat to the light-dependent functioning of symbiotic scleractinian corals, the habit-founders of warm, shallow water reefs. Here, we show that ALAN disrupts the natural diel tentacle expansion and contraction behaviour, a key mechanism for prey capture and nutrient acquisition in corals. We exposed four symbiotic scleractinian coral species to different ALAN treatments (0.4–2.5 μmol quanta m−2 s−1). Exposure to ALAN levels of 1.2 μmol quanta m−2 s−1 and above altered the normal tentacle expansion response in diurnal species (Stylophora pistillata and Duncanopsammia axifuga). The tentacle expansion pattern of nocturnal species (Montastraea cavernosa and Lobophyllia hemprichii) was less affected, which may indicate a greater capacity to tolerate ALAN exposure. The results of this work suggest that ALAN has the potential to affect nutrient acquisition mechanisms of symbiotic corals which may in turn result in changes in the coral community structure in shallow water reefs in ALAN-exposed areas.
DOI
10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115365
Publication Date
2023-09-01
Publication Title
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume
194
ISSN
0025-326X
Embargo Period
2023-11-02
Organisational Unit
School of Biological and Marine Sciences
Recommended Citation
Mardones, M. L., Lambert, J., Wiedenmann, J., Davies, T., Levy, O., & D'Angelo, C. (2023) 'Artificial light at night (ALAN) disrupts behavioural patterns of reef corals', Marine Pollution Bulletin, 194. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115365
