Live fast, die young: Behavioural and physiological impacts of light pollution on a marine fish during larval recruitment

Coral reef fish larvae exposed to artificial light at night (ALAN) for 10 days exhibited significant behavioral changes and higher mortality rates.

• Larvae actively avoided illuminated habitats during their settlement stage.
• Those living under ALAN conditions showed altered swimming behavior, which could increase their vulnerability to predators.
• Fish exposed to ALAN grew faster and heavier than those not exposed, suggesting complex growth responses.
• Despite increased growth, ALAN-exposed fish faced significantly higher mortality by the end of the study period.
• This research highlights the potential ecological impacts of ALAN on the early life stages of marine fish.

AI simplified