An integrated study on the effects of long term exposure to artificial light at night in free-living great tits (Parus major) and on the effectiveness of mitigating strategies.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) or light pollution is an increasing and worldwide problem. There is growing concern that because of the disruption of natural light cycles, ALAN may pose serious risks for wildlife. While laboratory studies have shown that ALAN affects many aspects of animal behaviour and physiology, few studies have experimentally tested how free-living animals respond to ALAN. Furthermore, new lighting strategies are being used as these are considered to be ecologically friendly. However, the effects of ALAN are largely unexplored and even less is known about mitigating strategies. I will for the first time experimentally study, in an integrated way, the effects of long term exposure to ALAN in adult and developing free-living great tits, an important model species. Furthermore I will quantify the effectiveness of part-night lighting (e.g. lights off from midnight till 05:00) and low light intensities as potential mitigating strategies. In adults, I will study to what extent ALAN compromises the immune system. I will also examine the disruption of sleep by ALAN, and how this may affect food provisioning. Finally, I will study the effects of ALAN on early development and physiology of nestlings. At the end of this project, I aim to have a better understanding of the behavioural and physiological consequences of ALAN exposure in adult and developing animals and the effectiveness of emerging mitigating strategies.

Keywords:LIGHT POLLUTION, PHYSIOLOGY (ANIMAL), BEHAVIOUR, SLEEP

Disciplines:Animal biology