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Artificial light at night (ALAN) negatively affects nest site occupancy but does not influence breeding success in two sympatric owl species.

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Title: Artificial light at night (ALAN) negatively affects nest site occupancy but does not influence breeding success in two sympatric owl species.
Authors: Mátics E; Doctoral School of Biology and Sport Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Vasvári Pál u. 4., Pécs, 7622, Hungary.; Hungarian Nature Research Society, Vadvirág U. 5., Ajka, 8448, Hungary., Laczi M; HUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter Sétány 1/C, Budapest, 1117, Hungary. miklos.laczi@ttk.elte.hu.; Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter Sétány 1/C, Budapest, 1117, Hungary. miklos.laczi@ttk.elte.hu.; The Barn Owl Foundation, Temesvári u. 8., Orosztony, 8744, Hungary. miklos.laczi@ttk.elte.hu., Schneider Z; Doctoral School of Biology and Sport Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Vasvári Pál u. 4., Pécs, 7622, Hungary. schneider.zoltan.bp@gmail.com.; Hungarian Nature Research Society, Vadvirág U. 5., Ajka, 8448, Hungary. schneider.zoltan.bp@gmail.com.; The Barn Owl Foundation, Temesvári u. 8., Orosztony, 8744, Hungary. schneider.zoltan.bp@gmail.com., Hoffmann G; Hungarian Nature Research Society, Vadvirág U. 5., Ajka, 8448, Hungary.; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Ifjúság Útja 6., Pécs, 7624, Hungary., Mátics R; Hungarian Nature Research Society, Vadvirág U. 5., Ajka, 8448, Hungary. bobmatix@gmail.com.; Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti Út 12., Pécs, 7624, Hungary. bobmatix@gmail.com.
Source: Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2025 Oct 31; Vol. 15 (1), pp. 38234. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Oct 31.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Nature Publishing Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101563288 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2045-2322 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20452322 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Sci Rep Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: London : Nature Publishing Group, copyright 2011-
MeSH Terms: Strigiformes*/physiology , Nesting Behavior*/radiation effects , Nesting Behavior*/physiology , Reproduction*/radiation effects , Light*/adverse effects , Lighting*/adverse effects, Animals ; Breeding ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Sympatry ; Female
Abstract: Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Artificial light at night (ALAN) negatively affects a broad range of animal species, with severe implications for conservation policy development and strategic planning globally. Birds are one of the most widely used ecological indicator groups in monitoring environmental changes. However, most studies examining the effects of ALAN are focused on diurnal bird species. It would therefore be necessary to study these effects in more detail on species with at least crepuscular or nocturnal activity, since they may be more vulnerable. We investigated the effects of illumination on the nest box occupancy of the western barn owl (Tyto alba; hereafter barn owl) and tawny owl (Strix aluco) in illuminated vs. unilluminated church towers and the reproductive output in nest boxes in these towers by comparing the numbers of eggs and chicks fledged. We found reduced breeding presence in illuminated towers in both species but no difference in reproduction parameters for either of the species. Our results underscore that light pollution has a negative consequence on the nest box occupancy of barn owls and tawny owls due to reducing breeding site suitability. This raises the threat that artificial light at night may hinder the conservation of such nocturnal bird species whose reproduction may be increasingly connected to human settlements in the future.
(© 2025. The Author(s).)
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Grant Information: LGHTPLLTN/2017 Hungarian Nature Research Society; BO/00213/25/8 János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; EFOP-3.6.2-16-2017-00014. European Commission
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: ALAN; Barn owl; Breeding site preference; Light pollution; Reproduction; Tawny owl
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20251101 Date Completed: 20251101 Latest Revision: 20251104
Update Code: 20251104
PubMed Central ID: PMC12578980
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-22044-9
PMID: 41173940
Database: MEDLINE
Description
Abstract:Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.<br />Artificial light at night (ALAN) negatively affects a broad range of animal species, with severe implications for conservation policy development and strategic planning globally. Birds are one of the most widely used ecological indicator groups in monitoring environmental changes. However, most studies examining the effects of ALAN are focused on diurnal bird species. It would therefore be necessary to study these effects in more detail on species with at least crepuscular or nocturnal activity, since they may be more vulnerable. We investigated the effects of illumination on the nest box occupancy of the western barn owl (Tyto alba; hereafter barn owl) and tawny owl (Strix aluco) in illuminated vs. unilluminated church towers and the reproductive output in nest boxes in these towers by comparing the numbers of eggs and chicks fledged. We found reduced breeding presence in illuminated towers in both species but no difference in reproduction parameters for either of the species. Our results underscore that light pollution has a negative consequence on the nest box occupancy of barn owls and tawny owls due to reducing breeding site suitability. This raises the threat that artificial light at night may hinder the conservation of such nocturnal bird species whose reproduction may be increasingly connected to human settlements in the future.<br /> (© 2025. The Author(s).)
ISSN:2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-22044-9