Authors:

Jabez Soongeui Shin

Date Created:

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About Paper:

With ongoing urban expansion, wildlife habitats become more fragments and exposed to novel sensory pollutants, such as artificial light at night (ALAN). Although previous research has increasingly explored how ALAN influences adult amphibians' morphology and physiology, its developmental impacts on tadpoles are less understood. This study investigates how ALAN alters tadpole growth, metamorphosis, and survival in American toads (Anaxyrus americanus). We evaluated responses to two prevalent urban light spectra: broad-spectrum white LED light and narrow-spectrum yellow incandescent light, simulating common types of streetlights in urban nighttime illumination. The lights were set at 15 lux, following the specifications for standard street and pedestrian lighting used in Indiana. These levels were validated through field measurements at multiple roadway sites in West Lafayette, IN. We raised tadpoles under three lighting conditions: control (natural environmental light), white LED light and yellow incandescent light. We then assessed the effects of each treatment on tadpole morphology and physiology, including indicators of stress, by the end of development. We hypothesized that exposure to artificial light at night during development would alter tadpole physiology and morphology, potentially increasing stress levels-as indicated by elevated corticosterone release-delaying metamorphosis, and reducing limb and body length. As size at metamorphosis is a key predictor of adult fitness, understanding these effects is essential for assessing long-term population impacts. These changes could impair survival to adulthood and lower recruitment, with implications for long-term population persistence. Continuing global declines in amphibian populations, continued research on the effects of urban lighting on amphibian development and fitness is essential. Keywords: Artificial Light At Night; American Toad; Morphology; Physiology; Urbanization † Presenting Undergrad Author; ‡ Contributing Undergrad Author; * Undergrad Acknowledgment

Source:

Purdue University / 2025

Topics:

No topics listed

Co-authors:

Jabez Soongeui Shin