The biological impacts of artificial light at night: The research challenge

Kevin J. Gaston, Marcel E. Visser, Franz Hölker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleOther

354 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Daily, lunar and seasonal cycles of natural light have been key forms of environmental variation across the Earth's surface since the first emergence of life. They have driven the development of biological phenomena from the molecule to the ecosystem, including metabolic and physiological pathways, the behaviour of individuals, geographical patterns of adaptation and species richness, and ecosystem cycles. Indeed, biological systems are arguably organized foremost by light.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages6
JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume370
Issue number1667
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 May 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Communities
  • Dose-response
  • Individuals
  • Light spectrum
  • Night-time

Cite this