Artifical light at night triggers slight transcriptomic effects on melatonin signaling but not synthesis in tadpoles of two anuran species.

The worldwide expansion of artificial light at night (ALAN) is acknowledged as a threat to biodiversity through alterations of the natural photoperiod triggering the disruption of physiological functions. In vertebrates, melatonin production during the dark phase can be decreased or suppressed by nocturnal light as shown in many taxa. But the effect of ALAN at low intensity mimicking light pollution in peri-urban area has never been investigated in amphibians.

Artificial light at night decreases the pupillary light response of dark-adapted toads to bright light.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is expanding worldwide. Many physiological effects have been reported in animals, but we still know little about the consequences for the visual system. The pupil contributes to control incoming light onto the retina.

Transcriptome-wide deregulation of gene expression by artificial light at night in tadpoles of common toads.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) affects numerous physiological and behavioural mechanisms in various species by potentially disturbing circadian timekeeping systems and modifying melatonin levels. However, given the multiple direct and indirect effects of ALAN on organisms, large-scale transcriptomic approaches are essential to assess the global effect of ALAN on biological processes. Moreover, although studies have focused mainly on variations in gene expression during the night in the presence of ALAN, it is necessary to investigate the effect of ALAN on gene expression during the day.

Discrimination of conspecifics from heterospecifics in a hybrid zone: Behavioral and chemical cues in ants.

Species and nestmate recognition in social insects occurs mostly through cuticular hydrocarbons acting as chemical cues. These compounds generate a colony-specific odor profile depending on genetic and environmental factors. Species and nestmate recognition results in specific behavioral responses, regulating the level of aggression toward other individuals during an interaction.

Ecdysteroids affect female reproductive status and outcome of contest over hosts in the parasitoid wasp Eupelmus vuilleti.

Ecdysteroids are a family of insect hormones that may play a role in modulating aggressive behavior in reproductive contexts. In Hymenoptera, the few studies investigating the link between ecdysteroid titers, reproduction and aggressiveness during contests concern solely eusocial species. Here, we explored whether ecdysteroid titers influenced female reproductive status as well as aggressiveness and resolution of conflict in a solitary ectoparasitoid, Eupelmus vuilleti (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae).