Pollination by nocturnal Lepidoptera, and the effects of light pollution: a review.
1. Moths (Lepidoptera) are the major nocturnal pollinators of flowers. However, their importance and contribution to the provision of pollination ecosystem services may have been under-appreciated. Evidence was identified that moths are important pollinators of a diverse range of plant species in diverse ecosystems across the world. 2. Moth populations are known to be undergoing significant declines in several European countries. Among the potential drivers of this decline is increasing light pollution. The known and possible effects of artificial night lighting upon moths were reviewed, and suggest how artificial night lighting might in turn affect the provision of pollination by moths. The need for studies of the effects of artificial night lighting upon whole communities of moths was highlighted. 3. An ecological network approach is one valuable method to consider the effects of artificial night lighting upon the provision of pollination by moths, as it provides useful insights into ecosystem functioning and stability, and may help elucidate the indirect effects of artificial light upon communities of moths and the plants they pollinate. 4. It was concluded that nocturnal pollination is an ecosystem process that may potentially be disrupted by increasing light pollution, although the nature of this disruption remains to be tested.
School of Biological, Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, University of Hull Hull, U.K. ; Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Wallingford, U.K. ; Butterfly Conservation Wareham, U.K.
Callum J
CJ
MacGregor
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Wallingford, U.K.
Michael J O
MJ
Pocock
Butterfly Conservation Wareham, U.K.
Richard
R
Fox
School of Biological, Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, University of Hull Hull, U.K.
Darren M
DM
Evans
Agro-ecosystems; artificial night lighting; ecological networks; ecosystem services; flowering plants; food-webs; moths; population declines