Biol Lett April 2016 PMID 27072407

Reduced flight-to-light behaviour of moth populations exposed to long-term urban light pollution.

Florian Altermatt, Dieter Ebert

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Mentions

112

Peak: 14 in Mar 2025

across 6 sources since Jan 2019

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208,286

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1,974

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111,336

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Jan 2019 – Oct 2025

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The consensus reflects a strong agreement on the research’s implications, with posts highlighting that urban moth populations are evolving to avoid light, as shown in phrases like 'urban moths are evolving' and 'artificial light is a strong selective force.' Posts expressing concern about ecological impacts use serious language such as 'mass extinction' and 'biodiversity,' indicating high perceived significance. The tone and detail in discussions reveal a collective recognition of the study’s importance for understanding urban-driven evolutionary change and environmental impact.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most posts agree with the article’s findings, emphasizing that urban moths are evolving to avoid artificial light due to long-term light pollution, highlighting shared concern about ecological consequences.

InterestHigh interest

Discussions show high interest, with many posts referencing the research, its implications for biodiversity, and evolutionary processes, indicating active engagement and curiosity.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts delve into scientific details, mention experiments, and express concern about ecological effects, showing meaningful engagement beyond superficial reactions.

ImpactHigh impact

Users recognize the study's significance, framing it as evidence of ecological change caused by human activity and emphasizing the importance of understanding light pollution’s broader effects.

Abstract in brief

Urban light pollution over decades causes moth populations to become less attracted to artificial light compared to those in dark-sky environments.
This reduced flight-to-light behavior, observed in moths from cities, may help their survival but could negatively impact their mobility, foraging, and ability to colonize new areas.
Since nocturnal insects like moths play a crucial role as pollinators and as a food source for many animals, these behavioral changes might have broader ecological consequences.

Read the full abstract

All mentions

Impact of Urban Light Pollution on Moth Behavior and Ecology

Urban light pollution over decades causes moth populations to become less attracted to artificial light compared to those in dark-sky environments. This behavioral change may improve survival but can negatively affect…

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Explore the significant findings from a 27-year study revealing a 76% decline in flying insect biomass across protected areas in Germany. This video delves into the implications for ecosystems and biodiversity…

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水磔

@kaipyonn · X

RT @Delta_yukkuri: 動画投稿しました。最近、長編動画が続いたので今回は軽めです。なぜ都市環境は生物の進化を加速させるのか？【ゆっくり解説】 https://t.co/7kaDf534qP

Oct 15, 2025 · 8 shares · 7 followers View post →

たぬき書斎

@PhysicsPha72321 · X

実際都市部の生物は、その環境に合わせて独自の進化をしているらしい。 https://t.co/0aez0tNS7J https://t.co/MpUDRZEZAb

Apr 23, 2025 · 43 followers View post →

松田裕之

@matsuda_hiro · X

https://t.co/RXvcy4VYi7 よくできていると思いました。

Apr 1, 2025 · 3 likes · 435 followers View post →

青ゲリラ

@kumaziro1217 · X

@kyota999 https://t.co/wGCVZINkZ7

Mar 31, 2025 · 604 followers View post →

雨音(あまね)

@6kuriame6 · X

なぜ都市環境は生物の進化を加速させるのか？【ゆっくり解説】 https://t.co/gxodor1T0p @YouTubeより rp>最近どっかで聞いた話と思ったらこれだった

Mar 30, 2025 · 133 followers View post →

ハルジオン

@Halzion_Y · X

なぜ都市環境は生物の進化を加速させるのか？【ゆっくり解説】 https://t.co/OnHgiNH3Fr @YouTubeよりデルタのゆっくり科学さま鳥の羽根が小さくなったり、たんぽぽの綿毛に変化があったりと、生物の神秘に驚かされました！ #デルタのゆっくり科学

Mar 30, 2025 · 4 followers View post →

クロネコ

@96neko · X

なぜ都市環境は生物の進化を加速させるのか？【ゆっくり解説】 https://t.co/MeYS3puVre @YouTubeより

Mar 30, 2025 · 2,576 followers View post →

Hatty Gramarye

@Hattyg · X

なぜ都市環境は生物の進化を加速させるのか？【ゆっくり解説】 https://t.co/zpylMpIMPc @YouTubeより

Mar 29, 2025 · 807 followers View post →

平松禎史

@Hiramatz · X

なぜ都市環境は生物の進化を加速させるのか？【ゆっくり解説】 https://t.co/g0hIH0sP6U @YouTube

Mar 28, 2025 · 1 like · 27,434 followers View post →

通りすがり

@bacaryau · X

デルタさんの動画が更新されてた https://t.co/JiraUdIzht

Mar 28, 2025 · 484 followers View post →

ぎゃばんちゃん手ミー！

@makkura_gaba · X

進化というより，遺伝子レベルでの環境変化への適応レンジの幅広さの度合ってだけな気がするけどなあ。人間の人種の多様が進化とは言われないように，種の多様性の範囲内におさまるレベルの話で，そんな高次元の話じゃない気がする。 https://t.co/aJYc3LEgp0

Mar 28, 2025 · 1 like · 747 followers View post →

琉ゆでたまごすこやか元気

@Dawn_Favor · X

Mar 28, 2025 · 8 shares · 712 followers View post →

琉

@58POINT · X

Mar 28, 2025 · 8 shares · 264 followers View post →

ハルジオン

@Halzion_Y · X

Mar 28, 2025 · 8 shares · 4 followers View post →

ナッツ157

@NAttudayo0812 · X

Mar 28, 2025 · 8 shares · 463 followers View post →

デルタのゆっくり科学

@Delta_yukkuri · X

Mar 28, 2025 · 27 likes · 8 shares · 553 followers View post →

Tater Magoo-ish

@PlantRobinson · X

https://t.co/xVtSBsarcd

Sep 17, 2024 · 2,232 followers View post →

Wilson Hill

@Phantom4614594 · X

No more bugs = mass hman extinction https://t.co/SoMzr3AYKZ

Jul 31, 2024 · 234 followers View post →

Travis McEnery

@travismcenery · X

Anyone interested in conservation should give this a watch. Nancy Miorelli gives a great appraisal of the current state of arthropod life in 2024. https://t.co/eYoTcH8Okd

Feb 10, 2024 · 1 like · 343 followers View post →

osmia lignaria

@OsmiaLignaria · X

#InsectApocalypse https://t.co/pPWtgzryjZ

Feb 7, 2024 · 82 followers View post →

竹立

@take_standup · X

ガのやつ https://t.co/6rGOAiWez3

Sep 2, 2023 · 1 like · 535 followers View post →

深山幽谷

@fNh06lZgXhksQnP · X

RT @m_laevis: @Alien_Evolve コレなんかまさにそうですね。https://t.co/sUcqnP1WfO

Aug 8, 2023 · 3 shares · 160 followers View post →

gobytis

@gobytis · X

RT @m_laevis: @Alien_Evolve コレなんかまさにそうですね。https://t.co/sUcqnP1WfO

Aug 7, 2023 · 3 shares · 54 followers View post →

たむねこ

@akiratamcat · X

RT @m_laevis: @Alien_Evolve コレなんかまさにそうですね。https://t.co/sUcqnP1WfO

Aug 6, 2023 · 3 shares · 837 followers View post →

Akira Terui

@m_laevis · X

@Alien_Evolve コレなんかまさにそうですね。https://t.co/sUcqnP1WfO

Aug 6, 2023 · 3 likes · 3 shares · 1,230 followers View post →

Florian Altermatt @florianaltermatt.bsky.social

@altermatt_lab · X

@JLowenWildlife urban or rural site ;-) https://t.co/VQ7pLyYbcw

Jul 10, 2023 · 1 like · 3,690 followers View post →

謹賀新年

@sana_anaIysis · X

RT @cone_biology: 現代社会で進化が起こっている事例田舎のガは光に集まってくる(キャンプで灯りに集まってくる感じ)傾向にあるけど, 都会のガは光に集まりにくいらしい都会は光が多すぎる・強すぎる(だから光害なんてものが言われている)環境だからこそ, このような…

Jan 24, 2023 · 2 shares · 234 followers View post →

紙魚

@verr0u · X

Jan 22, 2023 · 2 shares · 266 followers View post →

べっこういも

@cone_biology · X

現代社会で進化が起こっている事例田舎のガは光に集まってくる(キャンプで灯りに集まってくる感じ)傾向にあるけど, 都会のガは光に集まりにくいらしい都会は光が多すぎる・強すぎる(だから光害なんてものが言われている)環境だからこそ, このような進化が起きたんだろう https://t.co/4xmlTiuj2L

Jan 22, 2023 · 2 likes · 2 shares · 1,435 followers View post →

Tristan A F Long

@thelonglab · X

@IBJIYONGI @IDADarkSky It's terrible how light pollution is affecting the evolution of nocturnal species: https://t.co/3eHv7Y63Z9

Nov 27, 2022 · 4 likes · 3,104 followers View post →

Oecophora

@oecophora · X

Efter generationer i lysforureningens skær er byens Benvedspindemøl ikke nær så tilbøjelige til at søge til lys. Nødvendig tilpasning hvis man skal overleve byen, men prisen er lavere mobilitet. #dknatur #biodiversitet #jegkiggerpåinsekter https://t.co/JNfjEvsYMM https://t.co/PzZb4J20HD

Mar 8, 2022 · 2 likes · 233 followers View post →

Richard Fox

@richardfoxbc.bsky.social · Bluesky

2/2 This is same moth species that a previous study reported the evolution of reduced attraction of adult moths to light in populations from light-polluted areas https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2016.0111

Mar 4, 2022 View post →

PLATAFORMA CÍVICA PER A LA DEFENSA DE COLLSEROLA

@PCDCollserola · X

RT @AlbPalou: Un bon exemple: un experiment bastant curiós fet amb microlepidòpters (Yponomeuta cagnagella) va concloure que els individus…

Dec 28, 2021 · 2 shares · 256 followers View post →

@hevistunocellet

@hevistunocellet · X

RT @AlbPalou: Un bon exemple: un experiment bastant curiós fet amb microlepidòpters (Yponomeuta cagnagella) va concloure que els individus…

Dec 27, 2021 · 2 shares · 1,133 followers View post →

Albert Palou

@AlbPalou · X

Dec 27, 2021 · 11 likes · 2 shares · 625 followers View post →

Florian Altermatt @florianaltermatt.bsky.social

@altermatt_lab · X

RT @gkalinkat: Q6⃣ How and at what rates can populations adapt to ALAN? evolutionary responses to #lightpollution are very likely, yet evi…

Dec 18, 2021 · 1 share · 3,690 followers View post →

Gregor Kalinkat @gkalinkat@det.social

@gkalinkat · X

Dec 17, 2021 · 5 likes · 1 share · 2,621 followers View post →

Kensuke Nakata

@cyclosa_sp · X

#いきものたちのりくつ紙面版も煌々と明るい夜の街に適応したガの話。ネタ論文は、 https://t.co/4Nc85eBxcU

Dec 9, 2020 · 1 share · 1,256 followers View post →

Neil Gilbert

@n_a_gilbert · X

Reduced flight-to-light behaviour of moth populations exposed to long-term urban light pollution by @altermatt_lab Sweet paper - demonstrates that urban moths are evolving to have weaker attraction to light. Artificial light is a strong selective force! https://t.co/kf54GjY3VP https://t.co/VYH00wxeLk

Jul 15, 2020 · 1 like · 5,625 followers View post →

Forum Biodiversität Schweiz

@biodiversityCH · X

RT @altermatt_lab: The science behind one of the stories @artede documentary https://t.co/P5AXBFHJUQ on #urban #evolution: Reduced flight…

Apr 27, 2020 · 4 shares · 2,329 followers View post →

Menno Schilthuizen

@schilthuizen · X

RT @altermatt_lab: The science behind one of the stories @artede documentary https://t.co/P5AXBFHJUQ on #urban #evolution: Reduced flight…

Apr 27, 2020 · 4 shares · 3,152 followers View post →

Jason Munshi-South

@urbanevol · X

RT @altermatt_lab: The science behind one of the stories @artede documentary https://t.co/P5AXBFHJUQ on #urban #evolution: Reduced flight…

Apr 27, 2020 · 4 shares · 3,229 followers View post →

Florian Altermatt @florianaltermatt.bsky.social

@altermatt_lab · X

Apr 27, 2020 · 4 likes · 4 shares · 3,690 followers View post →

原　拓史

@haltaq · X

RT @KOBEKONCHU: 本日のオンライン文献紹介ゼミ。　都会では蛾の正の走行性が弱まる。光害の強い地域から採集してきたスガ科の一種は、光害のない地域からの個体に比べて光源へ飛行する頻度が減っていた。都会の人工光は昆虫に強い淘汰をかけているのかもしれない。https:/…

Apr 22, 2020 · 4 shares · 3,554 followers View post →

○○ sp.

@Noish5364 · X

Apr 22, 2020 · 4 shares · 1,035 followers View post →

Naoyuki NAKAHAMA

@naoyukinkhm · X

Apr 22, 2020 · 4 shares · 5,226 followers View post →

むしべや

@KOBEKONCHU · X

Apr 22, 2020 · 20 likes · 4 shares · 3,451 followers View post →

竹立

@take_standup · X

Reduced flight-to-light behaviour of moth populations exposed to long-term urban light pollution | Biology Letters https://t.co/OX0wvtijTB

Apr 6, 2020 · 2 likes · 535 followers View post →

Tristan A F Long

@thelonglab · X

@brandonscooper https://t.co/3eHv7Y63Z9

Feb 15, 2019 · 3,104 followers View post →

Lindsay Miles, PhD

@lindsay_s_miles · X

@hannastostad Moths avoid light in urban areas: Altermatt, F., & Ebert, D. (2016). Reduced flight-to-light behaviour of moth populations exposed to long-term urban light pollution. Biology letters, 12(4), 20160111

Jan 31, 2019 · 3 likes · 317 followers View post →

Wilte Zijlstra

@wilte · X

Onderzoek naar effecten van lichtvervuiling. Florian Altermatt City moths less attracted to light https://t.co/GLKLZhJage https://t.co/x3Dkc1Dx46

Jan 8, 2019 · 1,969 followers View post →

Reduced flight-to-light behaviour of moth populations exposed to long-term urban light pollution.

Mentions per month

Where it's discussed

What people are saying

Abstract in brief

Top posts

All mentions

Impact of Urban Light Pollution on Moth Behavior and Ecology

The Insect Apocalypse: Unpacking the 76% Decline in Biomass