Host plants possibly represent the strongest selection pressure for the evolution of reproductive traits in phytophagous insects. Our study indicates the potential use of lamps with larger wavelengths to effectively reduce the negative effect of light pollution on moth population dynamics and communities where moths play an important role. Moreover, our results indicate a size-bias in trapping moths, resulting in an overrepresentation of larger moth species in lamps with small wavelengths. Predatory species with a diet of mainly larger moth species and plant species pollinated by larger moth species might then decline. pollination, can be expected when larger moth species are attracted to these lights. Cascading effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, e.g. These lamps attracted moths with on average larger body mass, larger wing dimensions and larger eyes. We indeed found higher species richness and abundances of moths in traps with lamps that emit light with smaller wavelengths. Therefore, we tested the hypotheses that (1) higher species richness and higher abundances of moths are attracted to artificial light with smaller wavelengths than to light with larger wavelengths, and (2) this attraction is correlated with morphological characteristics of moths, especially their eye size. So far, current research highlights the importance of artificial light with smaller wavelengths in attracting moths, yet the effect of the spectral composition of artificial light on species richness and abundance of moths has not been studied systematically. In addition, sources of ALAN should be carefully managed, using movement detection technology and other means to ensure that light is only produced when necessary.ĭuring the last decades, artificial night lighting has increased globally, which largely affected many plant and animal species. We conclude that mercury vapour street lamps should be replaced by ecologically more neutral ALAN, and that in lit and open areas trees could be planted to mitigate the negative effect of ALAN on nocturnal pollinators. A negative effect of ALAN (MV lamps and overall light) on macro-moths was most prominent in areas with low tree coverage, indicating a mitigating effect of trees on ALAN. Effects of tree cover, however, were mostly driven by one site. We further found significant positive effects of tree cover density on species richness and abundance (total and Geometridae). We found a significant negative effect of mercury vapour street lamps on macro-moth species richness, while impervious surfaces showed significant negative effects on abundance (total and Geometridae). Macro-moths were identified to species level and GLMMs applied with the three landscape variables at different scales (100 m, 500 m and 1000 m). We undertook a landscape-scale study on 22 open green areas along an urban-rural gradient within Berlin, Germany, using light traps to collect moths. roads, parking lots and buildings), and tree cover on species richness and abundance of two major macro-moth families (Noctuidae and Geometridae) and (2) the potential mitigating effect of trees on macro-moths attracted to ALAN. sources of ALAN (mercury vapour/LED street lamps overall light pollution), impervious surfaces (e.g. Here, we studied (1) the effects of three landscape variables, i.e. However, the relationship between light and trees as ‘islands of shade’ within urban areas has not yet been fully understood. The increase in artificial light at night (ALAN) is widely considered as a major driver for the worldwide decline of nocturnal pollinators such as moths.
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