Consequences of artificial light at night on behavior, reproduction, and development of Lymnaea stagnalis

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2022-08, Vol.307, p.119507-119507, Article 119507
• Main Authors: Baz, El-Sayed, Hussein, Ahmed A.A., Vreeker, Edith M.T., Soliman, Maha F.M., Tadros, Menerva M., El-Shenawy, Nahla S., Koene, Joris M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALAN; Behavior; Feeding; Growth; Hermaphrodite; Light pollution; Mollusk; Reproduction; Snail
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119507

Light is an important zeitgeber that regulates many behavioral and physiological processes in animals. These processes may become disturbed due to the changes in natural patterns of light and dark via the introduction of artificial light at night (ALAN). The present study was designed to determine the effect of possible consequences of ALAN on reproduction, hatching success, developmental success, growth rate, feeding rate, mortality rate, and locomotor activity of the simultaneous hermaphrodite pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. Snails were exposed to different light intensities at night that simulate actual ALAN measurements from the snail's night environment. The data revealed that exposure to ALAN at a low level significantly affected the cumulative number of laid eggs. At the same time, snails exposed to ALAN laid smaller eggs than those laid under normal light-dark cycles. Additionally, high light-intensity of ALAN delayed development and hatching of eggs of L. stagnalis while it showed no effect on hatching percentage. Furthermore, ALAN increased both the feeding and growth rates but did not lead to mortality. The results also show that snails exposed to dark conditions at night travel longer distances and do so faster than those exposed to ALAN. In light of these findings, it is clear that ALAN may have an influence on snails and their abundance in an environment, possibly disturbing ecological stability. [Display omitted] •Different light intensity of ALAN has a significant effect on the reproduction of pond snails.•High light intensity of ALAN delays development and hatching of eggs of L. stagnalis.•ALAN has no effect on hatching percentage.•ALAN increased the feeding and growth rate of L. stagnalis but did not lead to mortality.•ALAN had no effect on L. stagnalis movement patterns, however it significantly reduced speed and traveling distances.