Invasive house geckos are more willing to use artificial lights than are native geckos

摘要: There is increasing concern about the ecological effects of light pollution, as artificial lighting spreads with urban expansion. While can negatively affect some species, others use it in novel ways. In tropical and subtropical regions, has created a niche: ‘night light’ niche. Geckos living human commensals (house geckos) are apparently well adapted to occupy this an area north-eastern Australia, we found that invasive Asian house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus (Gekkonidae) occupies broader range environments field than does native Gehyra dubia (Gekkonidae). Experimental removal species from building indicated did not behaviourally influence chosen by short term; they continued darker areas even after was removed. Y-maze experiments, neither showed significant preference for or dark areas; however, preliminary data suggest more willing explore species. The willingness H. frenatus forage closer lights, where insect abundance typically higher, might account its success global invader environments, other established.