Mighty mothmakers: How light pollution threatens migration!

Mighty mothmakers: How light pollution threatens migration!

The fascinating long-distance migrations of Australia's bogong moths have prompted scientists to conduct more intensive research into their navigation methods. According to a recent report by University of Oldenburg These insects use both the stars of the Milky Way and the Earth's magnetic field to achieve their goals. The moths travel distances of up to 1,000 kilometers during their migration, which takes them to the Alps in Australia, where they roost during the summer and return in the autumn months to mate and lay eggs.

A new study in the journal NATURE highlights that around four million of these moths migrate to the Alps to complete their life cycles during the summer. Fundamental to the navigation of these moths is the detailed influence of their environment, which has been examined in recent behavioral analyses. The researchers were able to identify specific nerve cells in the moths' brains that respond to the orientation of the starry sky.

Research on the navigation of moths

The study was conducted by an international team led by Prof. Dr. Eric Warrant carried out by the University of Lund in Sweden, including scientists from the University of Oldenburg Prof. Dr. Henrik Mouritsen and Dr. Jingjing Xu, were involved. An innovative flight simulator was developed to test the moths' behavior under different conditions. These experiments showed that the animals flew in the correct direction when the sky was clear, but reacted accordingly when the direction of the sky changed.

In addition, it was noticeable that when the starry sky was obscured, the moths maintained their direction and relied on the earth's magnetic field. The resulting discoveries could potentially inspire new technologies that could find applications in robotics and drone navigation.

Light Pollution Threats

However, the bogong moth population has declined sharply in recent years and is classified as endangered. This is often attributed to light pollution and human activity in their migratory areas. A study of the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg has shown that artificial light not only disrupts the orientation of moths directly under street lamps, but also in the light cones around them. Nocturnal insects, such as bogong moths, often move to light sources and become prey or die from exhaustion.

Light pollution is one of the most significant human changes on Earth and has far-reaching consequences for the environment and the food webs in which moths play a key role, as well as supporting plant pollination. A comprehensive analysis of the effects of light pollution shows that the interactions are more complex than initially thought, particularly with regard to the influence of the moon on moth behavior.

In a comprehensive study published in the journal PNAS, it was shown that moths' orientation is significantly affected by artificial light, even when they are outside the direct beam of light. Further research is therefore needed to understand the precise effects of light pollution on moth behavior.

In summary, findings about the navigation strategies of bogong moths and the dangers posed by light pollution should inspire both scientists and conservation experts to raise awareness for the conservation of these fascinating insects.