Coral Gametogenesis Collapse under Artificial Light Pollution
Abstract
Summary. Artificial light at night (ALAN) can have negative impacts on the health of humans and ecosystems.1-4 Marine organisms, including coral reefs in particular, rely on the natural light cycles of sunlight and moonlight to regulate various physiological, biological, and behavioral processes.5-8 Here, we demonstrate that light pollution caused delayed gametogenesis and unsynchronized gamete release in two coral species, Acropora millepora and Acropora digitifera, from the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Given the urbanization along major coasts, light pollution could thus further threaten coral communities' populations, which are already under severe degradation. A worldwide-modeled light pollution impact assessment is provided, which can help incorporate an important variable in coral reef conservation planning.
- Publication:
-
Current Biology
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.cub.2020.10.039
- Bibcode:
- 2021CBio...31E.413A
- Keywords:
-
- coral reefs;
- artificial light at night;
- marine;
- gametogenesis