The ALANIS project investigates how artificial light at night (ALAN) and coastal darkening affect aquatic ecosystems, particularly zooplankton diel vertical migration. Light changes disrupt predator-prey dynamics and key ecosystem functions. Using lab experiments, field studies, remote sensing, and ecosystem modeling, the project will assess zooplankton responses to varying light conditions across diverse European waters. Outputs include a high-resolution ALAN atlas and risk map, integrated into models predicting ecological impacts such as changes in export flux. Findings will support marine management and be shared through a Web-GIS platform for collaborative research and policy development.
The main expected impacts are:
- An improved understanding of marine light pollution by providing new knowledge on how artificial light at night (ALAN) and coastal darkening affect marine ecosystems, particularly organismic behavior, food web dynamics, and ecosystem functioning.
- Support for policy and risk assessment by generating critical data to inform environmental monitoring and risk assessment, supporting EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Descriptor 11 and guiding mitigation strategies for marine light pollution.
- An active involvement of policymakers, industry stakeholders (e.g. shipping and tourism), and regional sea conventions through targeted communication tools and workshops, ensuring outputs are tailored to end-user needs.
- An alignment with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 (Life Below Water)
- To deliver accessible, open-source data products via a Web-GIS platform integrated into UNESCO’s ICAN network, enabling widespread use of project results in environmental research, policy, and education.
Project coordinator:
- Dr Rüdiger Röttgers Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Institute for Carbon Cycles Max Planck Str. 1, D-21502 Geesthacht Germany ruediger.roettgers@hereon.de http://www.hereon.de
Project partners:
- Dr David McKee University of Strathclyde Rottenrow 107, G4 0NG Glasgow United Kingdom david.mckee@strath.ac.uk
- Dr Kim Last Scottish Association for Marine Science Dunbeg, PA371QA Oban United Kingdom Kim.Last@sams.ac.uk http://www.sams.ac.uk
- Dr Andrew Banks Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) Former USAF Base Gournes, 71500 Hersonissos, Crete Greece andyb@hcmr.gr http://www.hcmr.gr
- Prof Tymon Zielinski Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences Powstancow Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot Poland tymon@iopan.pl http://iopan.pl
- Ms Kathrin Kopke MaREI Centre, ERI, University College Cork, Ireland Beaufort Building, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, P43 C573 Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork Ireland K.Kopke@ucc.ie https://www.marei.ie/
- Dr Muriel Dunn SINTEF Ocean Brattørkaia 17 c, 7010 Trondheim Norway muriel.dunn@sintef.no https://www.sintef.no
- Dr Tom Langbehn University of Bergen, Department of Biological Sciences, Theoretical Ecology Group Thormøhlensgate 53B, P.O.Box 7800, 5020 Bergen Norway Tom.Langbehn@uib.no https://bio.uib.no/te/tl/
- Dr Malin Daase UiT The Arctic University of Norway Hansine Hansens veg 18, Postboks 6050 Stakkevollan, 9037 Tromsø Norway malin.daase@uit.no https://uit.no/startsida
- Prof Jonathan Cohen University of Delaware 700 Pilottown Road, 19958 Lewes USA jhcohen@udel.edu (associated)