Ecological benefits of artificial light at night (ALAN): Accelerating the development and metamorphosis of marine shellfish larvae

by Selleckchem | Feb 10 2024

Urbanization has led to increasing use of artificial light at night (ALAN), which has rapidly become an important source of pollution in many cities. To identify the ALAN effects on the embryonic development of the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai, we first exposed larvae to natural light with a light period of 12 L:12D (control, Group CTR). We then exposed larvae to three different light regimes. Larvae in Group NL were exposed to full spectrum artificial light from 18:00 to 00:00 to simulate the lighting condition at night, whereas Groups BL and YL were illuminated at the same time interval with 450 nm of short-wavelength blue light and 560 nm of long-wavelength orange light, respectively, to simulate billboard lighting at night. There were significantly higher hatching success and metamorphosis rates of larvae in Group BL than in Group YL or CTR (P < 0.05). The larvae in Group YL had the highest abnormality rate and took the longest time to complete metamorphosis. Transcriptomic studies revealed significantly higher expression levels of genes related to RNA transport, DNA replication, and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum pathways in Group BL compared to the other groups. In the metabolomic analysis, we identified prostaglandin B1, tyramine, d-fructose 6-phosphate, L-adrenaline, leukotriene C4, and arachidonic acid as differential metabolic markers, as they play a vital part in helping larvae adapt to different ALAN conditions. Multi-omics correlation analysis of pairwise comparisons between all of the groups suggested that the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways were significantly enriched (P < 0.05). Further quantitative analysis of the fatty acid (FA) contents revealed that 42 out of 50 FAs were down-regulated in Group BL and up-regulated in Group YL, which suggested that the synthesis, catabolism, and metabolism of FAs are crucial for the larval response to different spectral components of ALAN. For the first time, we report positive rather than negative effects of artificial blue light at night on the embryonic development of a benthic marine species. These results are significant for unbiased and full-scale assessment of the ecological effects of ALAN and for understanding the structural stability of the marine benthic community.

Comments:

This study on the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on Pacific abalone embryonic development is fascinating! The findings are quite detailed and offer a nuanced understanding of how different wavelengths of light affect the larvae.

The research seems to indicate that exposure to short-wavelength blue light (Group BL) positively influenced the hatching success and metamorphosis rates compared to other groups, while the orange light (Group YL) had adverse effects, resulting in higher abnormality rates and delayed metamorphosis. This insight into the differential effects of various light spectrums on marine species is valuable and quite unexpected, particularly the positive impact of blue light.

The correlation between gene expression, metabolic markers, and fatty acid contents provides a comprehensive view of the molecular mechanisms underlying these responses. The upregulation of certain pathways in response to blue light exposure suggests potential adaptations in RNA transport, DNA replication, and fatty acid metabolism that aid in the larvae's response to ALAN.

Furthermore, the identification of specific metabolites like prostaglandin B1, tyramine, d-fructose 6-phosphate, L-adrenaline, leukotriene C4, and arachidonic acid as differential markers sheds light on the biochemical processes involved in adaptation to ALAN.

The downregulation of fatty acids in Group BL and their upregulation in Group YL highlights the importance of fatty acid metabolism in response to different light spectra. This insight could have broader implications for understanding the impacts of ALAN on marine ecosystems and the structural stability of benthic communities.

The report's conclusion, noting the positive effects of artificial blue light on the embryonic development of a marine species, contrasts with the general assumption of negative impacts from ALAN. It emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of the effects of different light spectrums on diverse species and ecosystems.

Overall, this research is significant for expanding our knowledge of the ecological effects of ALAN and underscores the importance of considering specific light spectrums' impacts on marine life for more comprehensive assessments and conservation efforts.