The impact of artificial light at night on an owl-malaria-vector system.

Objective

Urbanisation is a major driver of biodiversity loss, often by altering species interactions, including those between parasites and hosts. Birds, avian malaria parasites, and their insect vectors form a key system for studying these effects. Artificial light at night (ALAN) is recognised as an important urban sensory pollutant that significantly affects wildlife behaviour and physiology. Previous studies in diurnal birds have shown that ALAN influences avian health, infection risk, parasite load, and vector activity. However, in nocturnal species such as owls (potentially more exposed to both ALAN and malaria vectors), the role of ALAN in modulating vector-borne disease transmission remains poorly studied. This project aims to assess the impact of ALAN on host-parasite-vector interactions using the Tawny owl (Strix aluco), avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium and the related genera Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon), and their insect vectors as a model system. Leveraging a network of 200 nest boxes across an urbanization gradient in Glasgow, I will integrate correlational and experimental approaches to 1) quantify the effect of ALAN on the health, immunocompetence and reproductive success of owls, 2) identify how ALAN modifies vector-borne pathogen infection dynamics and its synergistic impact on owls, and 3) assess the influence of ALAN on vector ecology and vector-host pathogen transmission. I will combine molecular techniques for parasite identification with physiological and immune biomarkers for health and immunocompetence assessment. This pioneering project will enhance our understanding of wildlife disease ecology in an increasingly light-polluted world, providing crucial insights into how light pollution may alter vector-borne disease dynamics in nocturnal birds, with broad implications for disease management under a One Health framework and for biodiversity conservation in urban environments.