How to translate text using browser tools
26 September 2019 Artificial Light Increases Local Predator Abundance, Predation Rates, and Herbivory
Marshall S. McMunn, Louie H. Yang, Amy Ansalmo, Keatyn Bucknam, Miles Claret, Cameron Clay, Kyle Cox, Darian R. Dungey, Asia Jones, Ashley Y. Kim, Robert Kubacki, Rachel Le, Deniss Martinez, Brian Reynolds, John Schroder, Emily Wood
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Human activity is rapidly increasing the radiance and geographic extent of artificial light at night (ALAN) leading to alterations in the development, behavior, and physiological state of many organisms. A limited number of community-scale studies investigating the effects of ALAN have allowed for spatial aggregation through positive phototaxis, the commonly observed phenomenon of arthropod movement toward light. We performed an open field study (without restricted arthropod access) to determine the effects of ALAN on local arthropod community composition, plant traits, and local herbivory and predation rates. We found strong positive phototaxis in 10 orders of arthropods, with increased (159% higher) overall arthropod abundance under ALAN compared to unlit controls. The arthropod community under ALAN was more diverse and contained a higher proportion of predaceous arthropods (15% vs 8%). Predation of immobilized flies occurred 3.6 times faster under ALAN; this effect was not observed during the day. Contrary to expectations, we also observed a 6% increase in herbivory under ALAN. Our results highlight the importance of open experimental field studies in determining community-level effects of ALAN.

© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Marshall S. McMunn, Louie H. Yang, Amy Ansalmo, Keatyn Bucknam, Miles Claret, Cameron Clay, Kyle Cox, Darian R. Dungey, Asia Jones, Ashley Y. Kim, Robert Kubacki, Rachel Le, Deniss Martinez, Brian Reynolds, John Schroder, and Emily Wood "Artificial Light Increases Local Predator Abundance, Predation Rates, and Herbivory," Environmental Entomology 48(6), 1331-1339, (26 September 2019). https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvz103
Received: 23 April 2019; Accepted: 29 July 2019; Published: 26 September 2019
JOURNAL ARTICLE
9 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
artificial light at night (ALAN)
human-modified ecosystems
phototaxis
predation
urban ecology
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top