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Artificial Light Extends Urban Growing Seasons More Than Temperature

  • Recent research published in Nature Cities highlights that artificial light at night (ALAN) has a greater impact than temperature on extending urban growing seasons, challenging traditional ecological models.
  • Satellite remote sensing data and ground-based observations were used to show that areas with higher nighttime artificial lighting experience prolonged growing seasons, altering plant phenology.
  • Plants perceive artificial lighting as an extension of daylight, leading to continued photosynthetic activity and disrupted circadian rhythms, affecting growth forms and susceptibility to pests.
  • The study raises questions about existing phenological models' lack of consideration for urban lighting environments and suggests incorporating ALAN to enhance predictive accuracy.
  • The interplay between ALAN and urban warming can impact metabolic rates, carbon sequestration dynamics, and contribute to the urban heat island effect.
  • Suggestions for ecologically informed lighting designs, particularly focusing on the spectral characteristics of light sources like blue-rich white LEDs, are proposed to mitigate biological disruptions.
  • ALAN-induced phenological shifts may lead to ecological consequences such as changes in invasive species dynamics, altered plant-pollinator interactions, and reshaped ecosystems.
  • The research underlines the need for interdisciplinary collaborations to address the ecological impact of ALAN through novel experimental designs, monitoring technologies, and policy frameworks.
  • The study emphasizes the urgent need to rethink urban planning to harmonize technological advancements with nature, recognizing ALAN as a significant force shaping planetary plant life cycles.

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