Full Length Research Paper
Abstract
Ambient light settings play a crucial role in the survival of organisms within their environments. This study investigates the impact of artificial light on crayfish behavior, particularly focusing on the effects of blue light. Crayfish, specifically Procambarus clarkii, which possess photoreceptors sensitive to a range of light wavelengths, were exposed to various lighting conditions: 590 nm (amber), 415 nm (blue), full-spectrum blue, and white Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights. The exposure lasted for seven days under a 12 h light/dark cycle, with light intensities maintained at 8-10 lux. An aquatic plus-maze with illuminated (2-3 lux) and non-illuminated (0 lux) arms was used to assess light avoidance behavior. Compared to the 590 nm LED light, treatment with the 415 nm LED light prompted a higher percentage of crayfish to avoid light and enter the non-illuminated arms immediately upon release into the plus-maze. A similar increase in light avoidance behavior was observed with full-spectrum blue and white LED lights. The overall differences in the number of entries and total dwell time were not significantly different between the 590 nm and 415 nm light treatments. Notably, exposure to blue or white LED lights, compared to 590 nm, led to increased avoidance of illuminated areas, regardless of gender differences. These findings suggest that even low-intensity blue light significantly affects crayfish behavior, increasing their aversion to light.
Key words: behavior, blue, Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights, crayfish, photoreceptor, plus-maze.
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