Publication
Title
Artificial light at night causes an unexpected increase in oxalate in developing male songbirds
Author
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a widespread and increasing environmental pollutant with known negative impacts on animal physiology and development. Physiological effects could occur through sleep disruption and deprivation, but this is difficult to quantify, especially in small developing birds. Sleep loss can potentially be quantified by using oxalate, a bio-marker for sleep debt in adult humans and rats. We examined the effect of ALAN on oxalate in free-living developing great tits (Parus major) as effects during early-life could have long-lasting and irreversible consequences. Nestlings' physiology was quantified at baseline (= 13 days after hatching) and again after two nights of continued darkness (control) or exposure to ALAN (treatment). We found that ALAN increased oxalate levels but only in male nestlings, rather than decreasing it as was found in sleep-deprived humans and rats. Our results using developing birds differ strongly from those obtained with adult mammals. However, we used ALAN to reduce sleep while in rats forced movement was used. Finally, we used free-living opposed to laboratory animals. Whether oxalate is a reliable marker of sleep loss in developing great tits remains to be examined. Potentially the increase of oxalate in male nestlings was unrelated to sleep debt. Nonetheless, our results substantiate physiological effects of ALAN in developing animals and may provide a foundation for future work with free-living animals.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Conservation physiology
Publication
2018
ISSN
2051-1434
DOI
10.1093/CONPHYS/COY005
Volume/pages
6 (2018) , p. 1-7
Article Reference
coy005
ISI
000425547300003
Pubmed ID
29479432
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Short and long term effects of light pollution on the great tit (Parus major) and the effectiveness of mitigating strategies.
Short and long term effects of light pollution on the great tit (Parus major) and the effectiveness of mitigating strategies.
Effects of light pollution on behavioural, life-history and physiological traits in a songbird: an integrative approach.
Integrative and experimental study of the effects of artificial light exposure at night during development in birds in the real world: merging mechanistic approaches with short- and long-term health and fitness consequences.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 06.03.2018
Last edited 09.10.2023
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