Maaike van der Zanden

Artificial light at night (ALAN) has consequences for the natural environment, and can affect species in different ways. The goal of my study is to see how light affects the behaviour of amphibians in time and space, and to see whether this effect changes under different intensities and spectral compositions of light. Many amphibian species, including toads, are nocturnal and highly light sensitive. Little is known about the effects of ALAN on the daily and seasonal timing of amphibian behaviour and physiology. For example, ALAN may alter the day length perception of some amphibian species as they might use this cue to determine when to start important life-history events, such as reproduction and hibernation. Aside from the temporal component, light could also affect how amphibians behave spatially. In some circumstances, amphibians may utilize the increased visibility under light, while in other cases, they might be deterred. I aim to study the spatial and temporal behaviour under different intensities and spectral compositions of light, to understand how the potential impact of ALAN may be mitigated.