Study finds all-night streetlights make leaves too tough for insects, potentially affecting urban food chains.

A study published in Frontiers in Plant Science found that all-night streetlights can make leaves too tough for insects to eat, potentially threatening the food chain. In urban ecosystems like Beijing, tree leaves showed lower levels of insect damage due to increased leaf toughness and decreased herbivory. The research suggests that artificial light may lead to changes in plant properties, causing a decline in insect populations and impacting the entire food chain.

August 05, 2024
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