City moths avoid the light

City moths avoid the light
Small ermine moth (Yponomeuta cagnagella). Animals of this species were used to study the attraction light has on moths in areas with heavy light pollution and areas with low light pollution. Credit: F. Altermatt

The globally increasing light pollution has negative effects on organisms and entire ecosystems. The consequences are especially hard on nocturnal insects, since their attraction to artificial light sources generally ends fatal. A new study by Swiss zoologists from the Universities of Basel and Zurich now shows that urban moths have learned to avoid light. The journal Biology Letters has published their results.

Some insects are attracted by while others shy away from it. Proverbial is the attraction light has on moths. Street lamps and other artificial light sources often become death traps for nocturnal insects such as moths. Either they die through direct burning or through increased exposure to predators. Mortality of urban insects can thus be 40- to 100- fold higher than in rural populations.

Artificial light affects the ecosystem of insects by interfering with their natural day-night cycle and influencing behavior patterns such as feeding and reproduction. Swiss Zoologists have now studied whether moths in the Basel region have already evolutionary adapted to the changed light conditions.

City moths are less attracted to light

Under the assumption that natural selection would favor moths with less propensity to fly to light in urban areas, the researchers examined the small ermine moth Yponomeuta cagnagella. For the experiment they collected larvae in the Basel region in areas with low light pollution such as the village Kleinlützel and in areas which have been exposed to heavy light pollution, such as Allschwil or Basel City.

City moths avoid the light
Moths and other nocturnal insects are attracted by artificial light sources. Swiss zoologist study how this behavior differst in animals from areas with high and low light pollution. Credit: A. Bieger

The researchers then analyzed the flight-to-light behavior of almost 1050 adult moths in the lab. The results show: moths from populations that have been exposed to heavy light pollution over generations have a significantly lower propensity to move towards light sources than individuals from areas with low . Furthermore the study shows that in both types of populations the female moths were attracted to light significantly less then their male counterparts.

Darwinian adaption to urbanization

The study results suggest that natural selection has changed the animals' behavior. Flight-to-light propensity is disadvantageous for moths in light polluted areas. Adapted avoid the light and thus have a survival advantage. Even though this evolutionary change reduces the high mortality by artificial light, it could also have negative implications for the community. A consequential reduced overall mobility of the could for example lead to reduced pollination of plants.

More information: Florian Altermatt et al. Reduced flight-to-light behaviour of moth populations exposed to long-term urban light pollution, Biology Letters (2016). DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0111

Journal information: Biology Letters

Citation: City moths avoid the light (2016, April 13) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2016-04-city-moths.html
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