Artificial Light at Night Increases Growth and Impairs Reproductive Success in Budgerigars (<i>Melopsittacus undulatus</i>) in a Duration Dose-Dependent Manner

Short-wavelength artificial light at night is increasingly being associated with health and ecological risks. The negative impact of this relatively new source of pollution has been studied intensively in wild birds but to a much lesser extent in captive conspecifics. Using an avian model, our objec...

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Main Authors: Malek Itay, Abraham Haim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-07-01
Series:Birds
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/3/23
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author Malek Itay
Abraham Haim
author_facet Malek Itay
Abraham Haim
author_sort Malek Itay
collection DOAJ
description Short-wavelength artificial light at night is increasingly being associated with health and ecological risks. The negative impact of this relatively new source of pollution has been studied intensively in wild birds but to a much lesser extent in captive conspecifics. Using an avian model, our objective was to evaluate the effects of short-wavelength (200 lux at 460 nm) lighting on the body mass and reproductive success of Budgerigars (<i>Melopsittacus undulatus</i>) under captive conditions. Birds were maintained under a naturally increasing photoperiod from March to June, with one daily artificial light at night exposure of increasing duration (0, 30, 60, and 90 min) in the middle of the dark period. During the experiments, birds were monitored monthly for body mass, number of eggs laid, hatching success, and melatonin sulfate levels in droppings. Artificial light at night increased body mass and decreased melatonin sulfate levels as well as the number of eggs and hatching success in a duration dose-dependent manner. Our findings provide further evidence of the potential adverse impact of artificial light at night on captive birds and advocate the need for effective controlling measures for light pollution.
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spelling doaj-art-b9e83e0f9cb6488f922fa39e06c83ee02025-08-20T01:56:11ZengMDPI AGBirds2673-60042024-07-015335236210.3390/birds5030023Artificial Light at Night Increases Growth and Impairs Reproductive Success in Budgerigars (<i>Melopsittacus undulatus</i>) in a Duration Dose-Dependent MannerMalek Itay0Abraham Haim1Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, IsraelThe Israeli Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Chronobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, IsraelShort-wavelength artificial light at night is increasingly being associated with health and ecological risks. The negative impact of this relatively new source of pollution has been studied intensively in wild birds but to a much lesser extent in captive conspecifics. Using an avian model, our objective was to evaluate the effects of short-wavelength (200 lux at 460 nm) lighting on the body mass and reproductive success of Budgerigars (<i>Melopsittacus undulatus</i>) under captive conditions. Birds were maintained under a naturally increasing photoperiod from March to June, with one daily artificial light at night exposure of increasing duration (0, 30, 60, and 90 min) in the middle of the dark period. During the experiments, birds were monitored monthly for body mass, number of eggs laid, hatching success, and melatonin sulfate levels in droppings. Artificial light at night increased body mass and decreased melatonin sulfate levels as well as the number of eggs and hatching success in a duration dose-dependent manner. Our findings provide further evidence of the potential adverse impact of artificial light at night on captive birds and advocate the need for effective controlling measures for light pollution.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/3/23body masslight pollutioncaptive birdsmelatoninshort wavelength
spellingShingle Malek Itay
Abraham Haim
Artificial Light at Night Increases Growth and Impairs Reproductive Success in Budgerigars (<i>Melopsittacus undulatus</i>) in a Duration Dose-Dependent Manner
Birds
body mass
light pollution
captive birds
melatonin
short wavelength
title Artificial Light at Night Increases Growth and Impairs Reproductive Success in Budgerigars (<i>Melopsittacus undulatus</i>) in a Duration Dose-Dependent Manner
title_full Artificial Light at Night Increases Growth and Impairs Reproductive Success in Budgerigars (<i>Melopsittacus undulatus</i>) in a Duration Dose-Dependent Manner
title_fullStr Artificial Light at Night Increases Growth and Impairs Reproductive Success in Budgerigars (<i>Melopsittacus undulatus</i>) in a Duration Dose-Dependent Manner
title_full_unstemmed Artificial Light at Night Increases Growth and Impairs Reproductive Success in Budgerigars (<i>Melopsittacus undulatus</i>) in a Duration Dose-Dependent Manner
title_short Artificial Light at Night Increases Growth and Impairs Reproductive Success in Budgerigars (<i>Melopsittacus undulatus</i>) in a Duration Dose-Dependent Manner
title_sort artificial light at night increases growth and impairs reproductive success in budgerigars i melopsittacus undulatus i in a duration dose dependent manner
topic body mass
light pollution
captive birds
melatonin
short wavelength
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/3/23
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AT abrahamhaim artificiallightatnightincreasesgrowthandimpairsreproductivesuccessinbudgerigarsimelopsittacusundulatusiinadurationdosedependentmanner