Light pollution research
My lab investigates the impact artificial light at night (ALAN) across a wide range of species (moths, birds, marine invertebrates and more), and using varied methods (field experiments, modelling, physiological recordings, and observation). Some of our key contributions include: low-light visual modelling showing the complex interplay between lighting spectrum and predicted moth flower colour perception; revealing the incredibly low intensities of light that can suppress moth activity; the harmful effects of pulses of light simulating vehicle headlights on moth behavioural responses; and the role of ALAN in reshaping the landscape-of-fear in predator prey-interactions.
Background
Light pollution has been linked to enormously harmful physiological, behavioural and ecological effects across plants and animals, and is increasingly recognised as a key contributor to the biodiversity crisis. The majority of animals are active in low-light, and they have evolved over hundreds of millions of years to use the day-night cycle to drive their activity patterns, regulate metabolic processes, and guide their interactions with their surrounds.
Artificial lighting has transformed human productivity, allowing us to be active at any time. However, light pollution intensity is increasing at about 2-10% annually, and we still don’t fully understand the implications this might have on biodiversity and critical ecosystem services such as pollination and pest control.
Our research
One of the key ways that light (and artificial light) affects animals is by altering the visual information available to them, and this is where our research comes in. We focus on novel experimental systems, such as hybrid field experiments, and automated (BehaveAI powered) observation, exploring not only direct street-lights, but also headlights and sky-glow that bring unique challenges for wildlife. Our behavioural experiments attempt to measure a wide range of behavioural outcomes. This is important because prior research typically focused on flight-to-light, which is not always the most common response, meaning existing work was unable to explore the multiple nuanced ways in which animals respond to different properties of light. We also attempt to work with a wide variety of species so that our work can translate to applied conservation, with results less likely to be unique to a convenient (but possibly non-representative) model system.
