TY - GEN A1 - Coesfeld, Jacqueline A1 - Anderson, Sharolyn J. A1 - Baugh, Kimberly A1 - Elvidge, Christopher D. A1 - Schernthanner, Harald A1 - Kyba, Christopher C. M. T1 - Variation of individual location radiance in VIIRS DNB monthly composite images T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - With the growing size and use of night light time series from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Day/Night Band (DNB), it is important to understand the stability of the dataset. All satellites observe differences in pixel values during repeat observations. In the case of night light data, these changes can be due to both environmental effects and changes in light emission. Here we examine the stability of individual locations of particular large scale light sources (e.g., airports and prisons) in the monthly composites of DNB data from April 2012 to September 2017. The radiances for individual pixels of most large light emitters are approximately normally distributed, with a standard deviation of typically 15-20% of the mean. Greenhouses and flares, however, are not stable sources. We observe geospatial autocorrelation in the monthly variations for nearby sites, while the correlation for sites separated by large distances is small. This suggests that local factors contribute most to the variation in the pixel radiances and furthermore that averaging radiances over large areas will reduce the total variation. A better understanding of the causes of temporal variation would improve the sensitivity of DNB to lighting changes. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 1113 KW - artificial light at night KW - light pollution KW - night lights KW - VIIRS DNB Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-472326 SN - 1866-8372 IS - 1113 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Coesfeld, Jacqueline A1 - Anderson, Sharolyn J. A1 - Baugh, Kimberly A1 - Elvidge, Christopher D. A1 - Schernthanner, Harald A1 - Kyba, Christopher C. M. T1 - Variation of Individual Location Radiance in VIIRS DNB Monthly Composite Images JF - Remote sensing N2 - With the growing size and use of night light time series from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Day/Night Band (DNB), it is important to understand the stability of the dataset. All satellites observe differences in pixel values during repeat observations. In the case of night light data, these changes can be due to both environmental effects and changes in light emission. Here we examine the stability of individual locations of particular large scale light sources (e.g., airports and prisons) in the monthly composites of DNB data from April 2012 to September 2017. The radiances for individual pixels of most large light emitters are approximately normally distributed, with a standard deviation of typically 15-20% of the mean. Greenhouses and flares, however, are not stable sources. We observe geospatial autocorrelation in the monthly variations for nearby sites, while the correlation for sites separated by large distances is small. This suggests that local factors contribute most to the variation in the pixel radiances and furthermore that averaging radiances over large areas will reduce the total variation. A better understanding of the causes of temporal variation would improve the sensitivity of DNB to lighting changes. KW - artificial light at night KW - light pollution KW - night lights KW - VIIRS DNB Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/rs10121964 SN - 2072-4292 VL - 10 IS - 12 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Eccard, Jana A1 - Scheffler, Ingo A1 - Franke, Steffen A1 - Hoffmann, Julia T1 - Off-grid BT - solar powered LED illumination impacts epigeal arthropods JF - Insect conservation and diversity N2 - 1. Advances in LED technology combined with solar, storable energy bring light to places remote from electricity grids. Worldwide more than 1.3 billion of people are living off-grid, often in developing regions of high insect biodiversity. In developed countries, dark refuges for wildlife are threatened by ornamental garden lights. Solar powered LEDs (SPLEDs) are cheaply available, dim, and often used to illuminate foot paths, but little is known on their effects on ground living (epigeal) arthropods. 2. We used off-the-shelf garden lamps with a single ‘white’ LED (colour temperature 7250 K) to experimentally investigate effects on attraction and nocturnal activity of ground beetles (Carabidae). 3. We found two disparate and species-specific effects of SPLEDs. (i) Some nocturnal, phototactic species were not reducing activity under illumination and were strongly attracted to lamps (>20-fold increase in captures compared to dark controls). Such species aggregate in lit areas and SPLEDs may become ecological traps, while the species is drawn from nearby, unlit assemblages. (ii) Other nocturnal species were reducing mobility and activity under illumination without being attracted to light, which may cause fitness reduction in lit areas. 4. Both reactions offer mechanistic explanations on how outdoor illumination can change population densities of specific predatory arthropods, which may have cascading effects on epigeal arthropod assemblages. The technology may thus increase the area of artificial light at night (ALAN) impacting insect biodiversity. 5. Measures are needed to mitigate effects, such as adjustment of light colour temperature and automated switch-offs. KW - Artificial light at night (ALAN) KW - Carabidae KW - illuminance KW - light pollution KW - light spectrum KW - nocturnal epigeal insect KW - phototaxis KW - solar powered light-emitting diode KW - spectral irradiance KW - white light Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12303 SN - 1752-458X SN - 1752-4598 VL - 11 IS - 6 SP - 600 EP - 607 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - THES A1 - Hoffmann, Julia T1 - Influence of artificial light at night on the behavior of small mammals T1 - Der Einfluss von künstlicher nächtlicher Beleuchtung auf das Verhalten von Kleinsäugern N2 - Artificial light at night (ALAN), one form of human-induced rapid environmental change, is continuously spreading in space and time and increasing in intensity as part of the ongoing urbanization. A vast range of animals is known to be affected by ALAN as, among other things, it can mask natural light cues and change both the perceived as well as the actual predation risk. Since ALAN per se is restricted to the night, the majority of studies so far have focused on nocturnal species or behavioral changes during the night. How polyphasic species respond to ALAN has been largely overlooked, although they can possibly carry over effects of nighttime illumination into the day. Additionally, individuals within a species are known to consistently differ in their personality which includes risk-taking behavior. While this implies that ALAN can lead to varying anti-predatory responses in animals within a population, knowledge on this topic is still very limited. This thesis aims at investigating what initial behavioral reaction is caused by ALAN in polyphasic small mammals while also incorporating an animal’s personality. Nighttime and daytime activity, movement and foraging behavior of the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) were investigated in regards to effects of different light intensities and partial illumination in the laboratory. Additionally, changes in intra- and interspecific interactions of bank voles and striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius) subjected to ALAN were studied in experimental populations in semi-natural outdoor enclosures. Chapter I explores whether behavioral responses to ALAN of varying intensity are related to animal personality. Results showed that bank voles reduced movement and foraging already under dim light and that bold animals generally moved and foraged more than shy animals. Exclusively under bright illumination did bold animals exploit the food patches more than shy animals. The results demonstrate that bank voles are affected by light intensities prevalent in urban habitats. Additionally, certain light scenarios might lead to an advantage of and a shift towards certain personality types. Chapter II focusses on the effects of partial ALAN on foraging behavior of animals with varying animal personalities while extending the view towards possible carry-over effects of ALAN into the daytime. While bank voles reduced foraging behavior in illuminated areas at night, they increased foraging behavior in those areas at the subsequent day. Bold individuals generally had lower giving-up densities than shy individuals but this difference was especially pronounced during daytime at formerly illuminated food patches. Thus, ALAN can have carry-over effects into the daytime in polyphasic animals and thus has the potential to affect daytime intra- and interspecific interactions. Chapter III broadens the view from the individual to the population level. Experimental populations consisting of bank voles and striped field mice were established in large outdoor enclosures successively experienced natural and artificial light conditions at night. VHF telemetry data revealed that animals were predominantly active during the day under natural conditions. This difference between day and night vanished under ALAN. Additionally, conspecifics reduced home range overlap, proximity and activity synchrony while boldness was not associated with behavioral changed due to ALAN. The results suggest that ALAN has the potential to alter intraspecific interactions and thus can have fitness consequences on the population level. Overall, the present thesis shows that ALAN can affect nighttime and daytime behavior as well as intraspecific interactions of polyphasic small mammals. Differences in risk- taking behavior of individuals may vary in importance depending on other environmental variables. Thus, this thesis hopefully triggers broadening the view regarding the role of an animal’s personality in coping with ALAN and the effects on daytime behavior and diurnal species. N2 - Künstliche Beleuchtung bei Nacht ist eine Form schnell eintretender Umweltveränderung, die durch den Menschen verursacht wird. Sie breitet sich in Raum und Zeit kontinuierlich aus und nimmt, als Teil der fortschreitenden Urbanisierung, stetig an Intensität zu. Ein breites Spektrum an Tieren wird von künstlicher Beleuchtung beeinflusst, da sie unter anderem natürliche Lichtsignale maskieren und sowohl das wahrgenommene als auch das reale Prädationsrisiko verändern kann. Da künstliche Beleuchtung an sich auf die Nacht beschränkt ist, hat sich ein Großteil der bisher durchgeführten Studien auf ihre Effekte auf nachtaktive Tierarten bzw. nächtliche Verhaltensweisen beschränkt. Jedoch wurde bisher kaum untersucht, auf welche Weise Tiere mit einem polyphasischen Aktivitätsrhythmus auf künstliche Beleuchtung reagieren, obwohl sie möglicherweise Effekte von künstlicher Beleuchtung bei Nacht auf den Tag übertragen können. Zusätzlich ist bekannt, dass sich Individuen einer Art konsistent in ihrer Tierpersönlichkeit unterscheiden, welche ihr Risikoverhalten einschließt. Während dies darauf hindeutet, dass künstliche Beleuchtung bei Nacht unterschiedliche antiprädatorische Verhaltensanpassungen bei Tieren innerhalb einer Population hervorrufen kann, sind die Kenntnisse über diesen Themenkomplex bisher sehr gering. Diese Doktorarbeit hat zum Ziel, die anfänglichen Verhaltensänderungen von polyphasischen Kleinsäugern, welche durch künstliche Beleuchtung bei Nacht hervorgerufen werden, zu untersuchen. Zusätzlich wird die Persönlichkeit der Tiere berücksichtigt. Es wurden Aktivität, Bewegungsmuster und Nahrungssuchverhalten in der Nacht und am Tag von Rötelmäusen (Myodes glareolus) in Bezug auf die Effekte verschiedener Lichtintensitäten und partieller Beleuchtung bei Nacht untersucht. Während diese Versuche im Labor stattfanden, wurde zusätzlich ein Versuch in semi- natürlichen Außengehegen durchgeführt. In diesem lag der Fokus auf Veränderungen in intra- und interspezifischen Interaktionen innerhalb künstlicher Populationen bestehend aus Rötelmäusen und Brandmäusen (Apodemus agrarius), welche bei Nacht künstlicher Beleuchtung ausgesetzt waren. Kapitel I untersucht inwiefern Verhaltensänderungen aufgrund künstlicher Beleuchtung bei Nacht mit der Persönlichkeit der Tiere in Verbindung stehen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Rötelmäuse ihre Bewegung und die Nahrungssuche bereits unter schwacher nächtlicher Beleuchtung reduzierten. Risikofreudigere Tiere bewegten sich mehr und suchten häufiger nach Nahrung als weniger risikofreudige Tiere. Diese Resultate verdeutlichen, dass Rötelmäuse durch solche Lichtintensitäten beeinträchtigt werden, wie sie für urbane Habitate typisch sind. Bestimmte Lichtszenarien könnten zudem zu einem Vorteil für und eine Selektion auf bestimmte Persönlichkeitstypen führen. Kapitel II konzentriert sich auf die Effekte, welche eine partielle Beleuchtung auf das Nahrungssuchverhalten von Tieren haben kann, welche sich hinsichtlich ihrer Persönlichkeit unterscheiden. Zusätzlich wird untersucht, inwiefern künstliche Beleuchtung bei Nacht auch am Tag zu Verhaltensveränderungen führen kann. Während die Rötelmäuse bei Nacht ihre Nahrungssuche in beleuchteten Bereichen einschränkten, zeigten sie dort eine gesteigerte Nahrungssuche am folgenden Tag. Risikofreudigere Tiere beuteten die Futterstellen stärker aus als weniger risikofreudige Tiere, wobei dieser Unterschied am Tag in den ehemals beleuchteten Futterstellen besonders stark war. Somit kann künstliche Beleuchtung in der Nacht auch Effekte auf das Verhalten von polyphasischen Tieren am Tag haben. Sie hat somit das Potential am Tag vorkommende intra- und interspezifische Interaktionen zu beeinflussen. Kapitel III weitet schließlich den Blickwinkel von der Individuen- hin zur Populationsebene. Es wurden experimentelle Populationen bestehend aus Rötelmäusen und Brandmäusen in großen Außengehegen etabliert, welche zuerst natürliche Lichtbedingungen und anschließend künstliche Beleuchtung bei Nacht erfuhren. Durch die Nutzung von UKW-Telemetriedaten konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Tiere unter natürlichen Lichtbedingungen vorwiegend tagaktiv waren. Dieser Unterschied in der Aktivität zwischen Tag und Nacht verschwand bei künstlicher Beleuchtung bei Nacht. Zusätzlich reduzierten Artgenossen die Überlappung ihrer Aktionsräume, ihre Nähe zueinander und die Synchronität ihrer Aktivitätszeiten. Risikobereitschaft beeinflusste die gezeigten Verhaltensveränderungen unter künstlicher Beleuchtung bei Nacht nicht. Die Resultate deuten darauf hin, dass künstliche Beleuchtung bei Nacht intraspezifische Interaktionen beeinflussen kann und somit potentiell Konsequenzen für die Fitness auf der Populationsebene haben kann. Zusammenfassend kann diese Doktorarbeit zeigen, dass künstliche Beleuchtung bei Nacht sowohl das Verhalten bei Nacht und bei Tag als auch intraspezifische Interaktionen von polyphasischen Kleinsäugern beeinflussen kann. Wie stark Unterschiede im Risikoverhalten von Individuen eine Rolle spielen, könnte von anderen Umweltfaktoren abhängen, welche mit der künstlichen Beleuchtung interagieren. Diese Arbeit bewirkt so hoffentlich eine Erweiterung des Blickwinkels, indem zukünftig die Rolle von Tierpersönlichkeiten im Umgang mit künstlicher Beleuchtung bei Nacht und die Effekte dieser Beleuchtung auf das Verhalten am Tag sowie tagaktive Arten berücksichtigt werden. KW - light pollution KW - human-induced rapid environmental change KW - urbanization KW - movement KW - activity KW - Lichtverschmutzung KW - anthropogene Umweltveränderungen KW - Urbanisation KW - Fortbewegung KW - Aktivität Y1 - 2021 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hoffmann, Julia A1 - Hölker, Franz A1 - Eccard, Jana T1 - Welcome to the dark side BT - partial nighttime illumination affects night-and daytime foraging behavior of a small mammal JF - Frontiers in ecology and evolution N2 - Differences in natural light conditions caused by changes in moonlight are known to affect perceived predation risk in many nocturnal prey species. As artificial light at night (ALAN) is steadily increasing in space and intensity, it has the potential to change movement and foraging behavior of many species as it might increase perceived predation risk and mask natural light cycles. We investigated if partial nighttime illumination leads to changes in foraging behavior during the night and the subsequent day in a small mammal and whether these changes are related to animal personalities. We subjected bank voles to partial nighttime illumination in a foraging landscape under laboratory conditions and in large grassland enclosures under near natural conditions. We measured giving-up density of food in illuminated and dark artificial seed patches and video recorded the movement of animals. While animals reduced number of visits to illuminated seed patches at night, they increased visits to these patches at the following day compared to dark seed patches. Overall, bold individuals had lower giving-up densities than shy individuals but this difference increased at day in formerly illuminated seed patches. Small mammals thus showed carry-over effects on daytime foraging behavior due to ALAN, i.e., nocturnal illumination has the potential to affect intra- and interspecific interactions during both night and day with possible changes in personality structure within populations and altered predator-prey dynamics. KW - light pollution KW - inter-individual differences KW - animal personality KW - Myodes glareolus KW - ALAN Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.779825 SN - 2296-701X VL - 9 PB - Frontiers Media CY - Lausanne ER - TY - GEN A1 - Hoffmann, Julia A1 - Hölker, Franz A1 - Eccard, Jana T1 - Welcome to the Dark Side BT - Partial Nighttime Illumination Affects Night-and Daytime Foraging Behavior of a Small Mammal T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Differences in natural light conditions caused by changes in moonlight are known to affect perceived predation risk in many nocturnal prey species. As artificial light at night (ALAN) is steadily increasing in space and intensity, it has the potential to change movement and foraging behavior of many species as it might increase perceived predation risk and mask natural light cycles. We investigated if partial nighttime illumination leads to changes in foraging behavior during the night and the subsequent day in a small mammal and whether these changes are related to animal personalities. We subjected bank voles to partial nighttime illumination in a foraging landscape under laboratory conditions and in large grassland enclosures under near natural conditions. We measured giving-up density of food in illuminated and dark artificial seed patches and video recorded the movement of animals. While animals reduced number of visits to illuminated seed patches at night, they increased visits to these patches at the following day compared to dark seed patches. Overall, bold individuals had lower giving-up densities than shy individuals but this difference increased at day in formerly illuminated seed patches. Small mammals thus showed carry-over effects on daytime foraging behavior due to ALAN, i.e., nocturnal illumination has the potential to affect intra- and interspecific interactions during both night and day with possible changes in personality structure within populations and altered predator-prey dynamics. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 1231 KW - light pollution KW - inter-individual differences KW - animal personality KW - Myodes glareolus KW - ALAN Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-544702 SN - 1866-8372 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hoffmann, Julia A1 - Hölker, Franz A1 - Eccard, Jana T1 - Welcome to the Dark Side BT - Partial Nighttime Illumination Affects Night-and Daytime Foraging Behavior of a Small Mammal JF - Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution N2 - Differences in natural light conditions caused by changes in moonlight are known to affect perceived predation risk in many nocturnal prey species. As artificial light at night (ALAN) is steadily increasing in space and intensity, it has the potential to change movement and foraging behavior of many species as it might increase perceived predation risk and mask natural light cycles. We investigated if partial nighttime illumination leads to changes in foraging behavior during the night and the subsequent day in a small mammal and whether these changes are related to animal personalities. We subjected bank voles to partial nighttime illumination in a foraging landscape under laboratory conditions and in large grassland enclosures under near natural conditions. We measured giving-up density of food in illuminated and dark artificial seed patches and video recorded the movement of animals. While animals reduced number of visits to illuminated seed patches at night, they increased visits to these patches at the following day compared to dark seed patches. Overall, bold individuals had lower giving-up densities than shy individuals but this difference increased at day in formerly illuminated seed patches. Small mammals thus showed carry-over effects on daytime foraging behavior due to ALAN, i.e., nocturnal illumination has the potential to affect intra- and interspecific interactions during both night and day with possible changes in personality structure within populations and altered predator-prey dynamics. KW - light pollution KW - inter-individual differences KW - animal personality KW - Myodes glareolus KW - ALAN Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.779825 SN - 2296-701X VL - 9 PB - Frontiers Media CY - Lausanne ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kaunath, Vera A1 - Eccard, Jana T1 - Light Attraction in Carabid Beetles BT - Comparison Among Animals From the Inner City and a Dark Sky Reserve JF - Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution N2 - Artificial light at night (ALAN) is altering the behaviour of nocturnal animals in a manifold of ways. Nocturnal invertebrates are particularly affected, due to their fatal attraction to ALAN. This selective pressure has the potential to reduce the strength of the flight-to-light response in insects, as shown recently in a moth species. Here we investigated light attraction of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae).We compared among animals (three genera) from a highly light polluted (HLP) grassland in the centre of Berlin and animals collected at a low-polluted area in a Dark Sky Reserve (DSR), captured using odour bait. In an arena setting tested at night time, HLP beetles (n = 75 across all genera) showed a reduced attraction towards ALAN. Tested during daytime, HLP beetles were less active in an open field test (measured as latency to start moving), compared to DSR (n = 143). However, we did not observe a reduced attraction towards ALAN within the species most common at both sides, Calathus fuscipes (HLP = 37, DSR = 118 individuals) indicating that not all species may be equally affected by ALAN. Reduced attraction to ALAN in urban beetles may either be a result of phenotypic selection in each generation removing HLP individuals that are attracted to light, or an indication for ongoing evolutionary differentiation among city and rural populations in their light response. Reduced attraction to light sources may directly enhance survival and reproductive success of urban individuals. However, decrease in mobility may negatively influence dispersal, reproduction and foraging success, highlighting the selective pressure that light pollution may have on fitness, by shaping and modifying the behaviour of insects. KW - light pollution KW - artificial light at night (ALAN) KW - Carabidae beetles KW - environmental change KW - Illuminance KW - solar powered light-emitting diode Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.751288 SN - 2296-701X N1 - VK and JE designed the experimental set up and research question. VK performed the animal trapping, experiments and hence, data collection, and organizing of the database. Both authors performed the statistical analyses and contributed to discussion, manuscript revision, read, and approved the submitted version. VL - 10 PB - Frontiers Media CY - Lausanne, Schweiz ER - TY - GEN A1 - Kaunath, Vera A1 - Eccard, Jana T1 - Light Attraction in Carabid Beetles BT - Comparison Among Animals From the Inner City and a Dark Sky Reserve T2 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Artificial light at night (ALAN) is altering the behaviour of nocturnal animals in a manifold of ways. Nocturnal invertebrates are particularly affected, due to their fatal attraction to ALAN. This selective pressure has the potential to reduce the strength of the flight-to-light response in insects, as shown recently in a moth species. Here we investigated light attraction of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae).We compared among animals (three genera) from a highly light polluted (HLP) grassland in the centre of Berlin and animals collected at a low-polluted area in a Dark Sky Reserve (DSR), captured using odour bait. In an arena setting tested at night time, HLP beetles (n = 75 across all genera) showed a reduced attraction towards ALAN. Tested during daytime, HLP beetles were less active in an open field test (measured as latency to start moving), compared to DSR (n = 143). However, we did not observe a reduced attraction towards ALAN within the species most common at both sides, Calathus fuscipes (HLP = 37, DSR = 118 individuals) indicating that not all species may be equally affected by ALAN. Reduced attraction to ALAN in urban beetles may either be a result of phenotypic selection in each generation removing HLP individuals that are attracted to light, or an indication for ongoing evolutionary differentiation among city and rural populations in their light response. Reduced attraction to light sources may directly enhance survival and reproductive success of urban individuals. However, decrease in mobility may negatively influence dispersal, reproduction and foraging success, highlighting the selective pressure that light pollution may have on fitness, by shaping and modifying the behaviour of insects. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 1259 KW - light pollution KW - artificial light at night (ALAN) KW - Carabidae beetles KW - environmental change KW - Illuminance KW - solar powered light-emitting diode Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-559104 SN - 1866-8372 N1 - VK and JE designed the experimental set up and research question. VK performed the animal trapping, experiments and hence, data collection, and organizing of the database. Both authors performed the statistical analyses and contributed to discussion, manuscript revision, read, and approved the submitted version. ER - TY - JOUR A1 - van Grunsven, Roy Hendrikus Antonius A1 - Jaehnichen, David A1 - Grubisic, Maja A1 - Hölker, Franz T1 - Slugs (Arionidae) benefit from nocturnal artificial illumination JF - Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological and Integrative Physiology N2 - Artificial illumination increases around the globe and this has been found to affect many groups of organisms and ecosystems. By manipulating nocturnal illumination using one large experimental field site with 24 streetlights and one dark control, we assessed the impact of artificial illumination on slugs over a period of 4 years. The number of slugs, primarily Arionidae, increased strongly in the illuminated site but not on the dark site. There are several nonexclusive explanations for this effect, including reduced predation and increased food quality in the form of carcasses of insects attracted by the light. As slugs play an important role in ecosystems and are also important pest species, the increase of slugs under artificial illumination cannot only affect ecosystem functioning but also have important economic consequences. KW - ALAN KW - Arionidae KW - gastropoda KW - light pollution KW - phototaxis Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.2170 SN - 2471-5646 VL - 329 IS - 8-9 SP - 429 EP - 433 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER -