The effects of light pollution on biological rhythms of birds: an integrated, mechanistic perspective

Dominoni, D. M. (2015) The effects of light pollution on biological rhythms of birds: an integrated, mechanistic perspective. Journal of Ornithology, 156(S1), pp. 409-418. (doi: 10.1007/s10336-015-1196-3)

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Abstract

Light pollution is considered a threat for biodiversity given the extent to which it can affect a vast number of behavioral and physiological processes in several species. This comes as no surprise as light is a fundamental, environmental cue through which organisms time their daily and seasonal activities, and alterations in the light environment have been found to affect profoundly the synchronization of the circadian clock, the endogenous mechanism that tracks and predicts variation in the external light/dark cycles. In this context, birds have been one of the most studied animal taxa, but our understanding of the effects of light pollution on the biological rhythms of avian species is mostly limited to behavioral responses. In order to understand which proximate mechanisms may be affected by artificial lights, we need an integrated perspective that focuses on light as a physiological signal, and especially on how photic information is perceived, decoded, and transmitted through the whole body. The aim of this review is to summarize the effects of light pollution on physiological and biochemical mechanisms that underlie changes in birds’ behavior, highlighting the current gaps in our knowledge and proposing future research avenues.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Dominoni, Dr Davide
Authors: Dominoni, D. M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Journal of Ornithology
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:2193-7192
ISSN (Online):2193-7206
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2015 Springer International Publishing
First Published:First published in Journal of Ornithology 156(1):409-418
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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