Maltese Coastline Never Sleeps: The Effects of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) on the Local Infralittoral Assemblages—A Case Study

Abstract

Aside from the most notorious threats, the Mediterranean Sea faces novel and poorly explored impacts from artificial light at night (ALAN), which influences natural light–dark cycles and affects marine ecosystems. This study investigates the impact of ALAN on coastal infralittoral assemblages in Malta, where such effects remain unexplored. Using Baited Remote Underwater Videos (BRUVs), we examined the influence of different light intensities on species assemblages and behaviour at two sites: a light-polluted harbour and a darker reef area. Our findings reveal significant differences in fish community composition between light treatments and habitats. Among the 23,955 individuals recorded across multiple taxa, Boops boops accounted for 80% of observations. From our results, light intensity had a more substantial impact on community structure than habitat type, with species-specific responses to light. Predatory species such as Trachurus trachurus displayed increased activity under high-intensity white light, while Apogon imberbis and Serranus scriba were more abundant under red light, irrespective of habitat. These results underscore the role of ALAN in altering marine community dynamics and emphasise the need for sustainable management strategies to mitigate its impact on the biodiversity of the Mediterranean. This study provides initial empirical evidence of ALAN’s effects in Maltese waters, contributing to broader efforts to understand and manage light pollution in marine ecosystems.

Keywords

• Mediterranean Sea
• fish assemblages
• fish night behaviour
• pulse and press disturbance
• artificial lights