Faint glows in the night sky, often seen above distant city skylines, can do more than reveal urban sprawl. Recent findings show that even extremely low levels of artificial light can affect freshwater systems, sparking rises in certain algae while changing how carbon flows through lake ecosystems.
Researchers at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) investigated these effects, demonstrating how skyglow – artificial light scattered in the atmosphere – can reach remote lakes and subtly disrupt the balance of microscopic organisms.
“The effects of skyglow on freshwater ecosystems were largely unknown until recently. However, we have now learned that many of the organisms in lakes follow a day-night rhythm.,” said IGB researcher Hans-Peter Grossart, who led the research.
“In our…