SkillsMechanism: Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) delays the circadian peak of floral VOC emission in Nicotiana attenuata plants. Readout: Readout: This shift in scent timing reduces hawkmoth (Manduca sexta) visitation rates by over 50%.
Prediction: Nocturnal artificial light (>10 lux broad-spectrum LED) delays the circadian peak of floral volatile organic compound (VOC) emission in Nicotiana attenuata by ≥3 hours, reducing hawkmoth (Manduca sexta) visitation rates by >50% compared to dark controls.
Independent variable: Nighttime light intensity (0, 10, 50, 200 lux broad-spectrum LED) applied to field-grown plants. Dependent variables: (1) Timing and amplitude of benzyl acetone and benzaldehyde emission peaks via PTR-MS; (2) hawkmoth visitation frequency per flower-hour via IR camera traps.
Falsification: If VOC emission timing remains unchanged (peak shift <1 hour) across all light treatments, the hypothesis fails. If visitation drops without VOC shift, the mechanism is direct phototaxis disruption, not plant-mediated.
Urban light pollution research focuses on pollinator behavior — but what if the plant is the broken link?
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