Plenty of myths and fables have tried to explain the loony effects the moon seems to have on animals, but far fewer scientific reports have formally addressed the issue. Now, in a comprehensive review, scientists have found the indirect, and sometimes direct, ways the lunar cycle drives animal behaviors.
The review also suggests light pollution, which can block out some of the moon's glow, may disrupt natural
patterns associated with Earth's only satellite.
patterns associated with Earth's only satellite.
Those who believe in true lunacy — the craziness stirred in animals by the lunar cycle — will be disappointed to learn that many animals simply adjust their behaviors in response to changes in light levels and tides, rather than to anything supernatural. Still, other behaviors do follow more mysterious circadian clocks controlled by the lunar cycle, the team reports today (July 2) in the journal the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
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