biology, biological sciences, tiegs, parkinson, research, light pollution
October 31, 2023
OU graduate student Lizz Parkinson, with the support of her Department of Biological Sciences faculty adviser, Professor Scott Tiegs, has published an article regarding her light pollution research in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.
The article, entitled "Spectral composition of light-emitting diodes impacts aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate communities with potential implications for cross-ecosystem subsidies" is part of the theme issue Light pollution in complex ecological systems and builds upon Parkinson's work that was highlighted in this Oakland University YouTube video.
Parkinson's research looks at how artificial light at night is affecting the ecology of insects, particularly those who begin their lives in water and move to land as their life cycle progresses. These insects, which include mosquitos, dragonflies and mayflies, are valuable food sources for organisms that live on land.
Continuing its long history of influential scientific publishing, Philosophical Transactions B publishes high quality theme issues on topics of current importance and general interest within the life sciences. The work is guest-edited by leading authorities and consists of new research, reviews and opinions from prominent researchers.
The Royal Society was founded in 1660 to promote the new experimental philosophy of that time, embodying the principles of Sir Francis Bacon. The first issue of Philosophical Transactions appeared in March 1665 and featured Oldenburg's correspondence with leading European scientists.
In its formative years, Isaac Newton had seventeen papers published in the journal including his first paper - New Theory about Light and Colours - which effectively served to launch his scientific career in 1672. Philosophical Transactions has also published the work of Charles Darwin, Michael Faraday, William Herschel and many more celebrated names in science.
In 1887, the journal expanded to become two separate publications, one serving the biological sciences ('B') and the other serving the physical sciences ('A'). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society has the prestige of being the world's longest running science journal.