Light pollution lowers activity, eating, and growth in a sandy beach animal

Artificial light significantly reduces locomotor activity and growth rates of the talitrid amphipod Orchestoidea tuberculata.

• Increased light pollution may disrupt natural behavior patterns in sandy beach organisms.
• Amphipods exposed to artificial light showed reduced locomotor activity compared to those under natural light conditions.
• Foraging behavior was adversely affected, leading to lower food consumption rates in amphipods under artificial light.
• Growth rates of amphipods decreased significantly in environments with artificial lighting.
• The findings suggest that rising levels of artificial light pollution could negatively impact sandy beach communities and their ecosystems.

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