Meeting Abstract
Organisms living in urban areas are exposed to ambient light at night (ALAN) and these conditions are known to affect the natural rhythmicity of hormones produced by the body (e.g., glucocorticoids and melatonin). Disruptions with these physiological processes may also have cascading effects on the metabolism of an organism. The objective of this study was to determine if anoles exposed to ALAN would increase metabolism due to the disruption of sleep patterns and increased activity, or if the chronic stressor, ALAN, may lead to downstream pathological effects and a decrease in metabolism. To answer this question, 24 green anoles (Anolis carolinensis) were divided randomly into two groups: the Experimental Group with a 24-hour light cycle and a Control Group with a 12:12 light:dark cycle. Both groups were maintained at similar temperatures, humidity, and UV light conditions. We measured metabolic rates of anoles at the beginning of the study, week 3, and week 6 using stop-flow respirometry. Metabolic rates were measured at both midday and midnight. By measuring the changes in CO2 production and O2 consumption, the respiratory quotient (RQ) was determined and used to compare if treatment groups were metabolizing different sources (lipids, proteins, or carbohydrates). This study can help biologists further understand how populations are affected by anthropogenic disturbances and the effect of a chronic stressor on the metabolic rate of an organism.
