Background

This Research Topic aims to delve into the intricate relationship between lunar phases and the biological and behavioral changes in mammals. Several species are known to modify their activities based on the cyclical changes in the moonlight's intensity, but comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon remains limited.

The Topic will focus on examining activity patterns of a variety of mammalian species, spanning different habitats and ecological niches. The nocturnal and crepuscular species, for whom moonlight can significantly impact the visibility, will be our central focus. We intend to explore the changes in their sleep patterns, feeding behavior, social interactions, and other movement activities in response to the lunar cycle.

Species activity levels and timing of these activities can respond to moonlight (either positively or negatively), which is interesting but straightforward. Light intensity is dependent on the lunar phase but will also be affected by the habitat/vegetation cover, the seasonal light regime especially in northern/southern latitudes, and by the weather conditions/clouding. An exciting question to ask in this Topic, is whether or not there is also an effect of the lunar phase irrespective of light intensity - we will investigate if these changes are mere responses to the variation in light conditions or if there exists a deeper biological clock aligned with the lunar cycle, as seen in some marine species. Implications of these behaviors on predator-prey dynamics, reproductive habits, and species survival strategies will also be assessed, providing a broad understanding of the topic.