What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine how the spectral composition of artificial light at night affects the colonization patterns and fish predation of mobile epibenthic macroinvertebrates in coastal marinas.

August 14, 2026Marine Pollution BulletinOpen Access

Effects of spectral composition of artificial light on the colonization patterns of mobile epibenthic macrofauna in marinas

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Authors

PSPablo Saenz-AriasUniversidad de Sevilla SRSofía Ruiz-VelascoUniversidad de Sevilla CTCarlos TapiaNordregio

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Implication

Field experiments reveal that artificial light at night alters colonization of mobile marine invertebrates, indicating light spectrum influences predation.

Key Points

To determine how the spectral composition of artificial light at night affects the colonization patterns and fish predation of mobile epibenthic macroinvertebrates in coastal marinas.
Submerged artificial passive collectors were deployed in a recreational marina under three lighting treatments: cold light, warm light, and an unlit control.
Colonization dynamics were tracked across time by retrieving collectors after 3, 15, and 30 days of exposure.
A 30-day caging experiment (caged vs. exposed collectors) was conducted to test whether light spectrum effects were mediated by fish predation.
Total abundance, total biomass, and species richness significantly increased under artificial light at 3 days; by day 30, overall assemblage differences diminished, though total biomass remained elevated.
Colonization patterns and assemblage structures showed no significant differences between cold and warm light spectra over the 30-day timeline.
The predation experiment indicated greater combined effects under cold light than warm light, demonstrating selective rather than uniform fish predation on the macrofaunal assemblage.

Cite This Study

Saenz-Arias et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a7ec754b70b84ec8b9139e4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.120228

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Implication

Field experiments reveal that artificial light at night alters colonization of mobile marine invertebrates, indicating light spectrum influences predation.

Effects of spectral composition of artificial light on the colonization patterns of mobile epibenthic macrofauna in marinas

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Effects of spectral composition of artificial light on the colonization patterns of mobile epibenthic macrofauna in marinas

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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