Biodiversity data journalOct 17, 2026

Nighttime arthropods found in protected natural areas of Madeira Island (Portugal)

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Oct 18, 2026

Abstract

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is recognized as a significant threat to biodiversity in oceanic islands.

Moths (Lepidoptera) are critical to nocturnal ecosystems but their distribution and abundance in Madeira Island are not well documented.
The effects of ALAN on moth populations are not thoroughly understood.
This initiative is part of a broader project aimed at addressing light pollution in the Macaronesian archipelagos.
The project seeks to support conservation and management actions based on evidence.

Simplified

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is increasingly recognised as an important anthropogenic pressure affecting nocturnal biodiversity, particularly in oceanic islands with high endemism levels. Arthropods, especially moths (Lepidoptera), are key components of nocturnal ecosystems, yet their distribution and abundance patterns in Madeira Island remain insufficiently documented and their responses to ALAN are poorly understood. This study was implemented under the LIFE Natura@night project - Mitigating light pollution in Macaronesia (LIFE20 NAT/PT/001098; https://www.naturaatnight.spea.pt), which aims to assess and mitigate the impacts of artificial light at night on biodiversity and ecosystems across the Macaronesian archipelagos, while supporting evidence-based conservation and management actions.

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Nighttime arthropods found in protected natural areas of Madeira Island (Portugal)

Abstract

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