Antagonistic effects of epibiota on chronic experimental Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) exposure in Cymodocea nodosa
Abstract
Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) is an emerging anthropogenic stressor in coastal ecosystems, particularly in urbanised areas. ALAN can disrupt the natural diel cycles of light-sensitive foundation species, such as seagrasses, altering key physiological processes. Although ALAN can affect marine primary producers, its effects on seagrasses under realistic field conditions and in interaction with other stressors remain poorly understood. In urbanised coastal systems ALAN frequently co-occurs alongside nutrient enrichment and consequent epibiotic accumulation, which could mediate seagrass responses to ALAN. We assessed the synergistic effect of ALAN and epibiota on the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa using an in situ field experiment in a low light polluted location of the Venice Lagoon, Italy, where artificial illumination was experimentally introduced and epibiota presence was manipulated through biweekly leaf cleaning. Night-time oxygen fluxes and photosynthetic performance were measured to observe immediate physiological responses. Further, photosynthetic efficiency (ΦPSII) was assessed in the lab, together with leaf length and specific leaf area traits, to evaluate longer-term functional responses. ALAN and epibiota had no detectable effects on oxygen fluxes or photosynthetic efficiency measured at night. However, leaf length was reduced in ALAN-exposed plants compared to controls and under standardised daylight conditions in the lab, ΦPSII was significantly higher, an effect observed only in the absence of epibiota. Our results demonstrate that realistic ALAN disturbance does not directly affect seagrass photosynthesis, however long-term physiology and morphology can be affected. This long-term effect is modulated by epibionts, underscoring how frequently co-occurring stressors interact in coastal ecosystems.
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BibTeX
@article{gauff2026antagonistic,
title = {{Antagonistic effects of epibiota on chronic experimental Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) exposure in Cymodocea nodosa}},
author = {Robin Gauff and Joana A. Riedel and Laura Airoldi and Giada Riva and Yuvarani Selvam and Davide de Battisti},
journal = {Marine Environmental Research},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.108273},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05854103v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Antagonistic effects of epibiota on chronic experimental Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) exposure in Cymodocea nodosa
AU - Robin Gauff
AU - Joana A. Riedel
AU - Laura Airoldi
AU - Giada Riva
AU - Yuvarani Selvam
AU - Davide de Battisti
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - Marine Environmental Research
DO - 10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.108273
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05854103v1
AB - Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) is an emerging anthropogenic stressor in coastal ecosystems, particularly in urbanised areas. ALAN can disrupt the natural diel cycles of light-sensitive foundation species, such as seagrasses, altering key physiological processes. Although ALAN can affect marine primary producers, its effects on seagrasses under realistic field conditions and in interaction with other stressors remain poorly understood. In urbanised coastal systems ALAN frequently co-occurs alongside nutrient enrichment and consequent epibiotic accumulation, which could mediate seagrass responses to ALAN. We assessed the synergistic effect of ALAN and epibiota on the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa using an in situ field experiment in a low light polluted location of the Venice Lagoon, Italy, where artificial illumination was experimentally introduced and epibiota presence was manipulated through biweekly leaf cleaning. Night-time oxygen fluxes and photosynthetic performance were measured to observe immediate physiological responses. Further, photosynthetic efficiency (ΦPSII) was assessed in the lab, together with leaf length and specific leaf area traits, to evaluate longer-term functional responses. ALAN and epibiota had no detectable effects on oxygen fluxes or photosynthetic efficiency measured at night. However, leaf length was reduced in ALAN-exposed plants compared to controls and under standardised daylight conditions in the lab, ΦPSII was significantly higher, an effect observed only in the absence of epibiota. Our results demonstrate that realistic ALAN disturbance does not directly affect seagrass photosynthesis, however long-term physiology and morphology can be affected. This long-term effect is modulated by epibionts, underscoring how frequently co-occurring stressors interact in coastal ecosystems.
SN - 0141-1136
SN - 1879-0291
ER -