Data from: Artificial light at night increases growth and reproductive output in Anolis lizards

Since the invention of electric lighting, artificial light at night (ALAN)
has become a defining, and evolutionarily novel, feature of human-altered
environments especially in cities. ALAN imposes negative impacts on many
organisms, including disrupting endocrine function, metabolism, and
reproduction. However, we do not know how generalized these impacts are
across taxa that exploit urban environments. We exposed brown anole
lizards, an abundant and invasive urban exploiter, to relevant levels of
ALAN in the lab and assessed effects on growth and reproduction at the
start of the breeding season. Male and female anoles exposed to ALAN
increased growth and did not suffer increased levels of corticosterone.
ALAN exposure induced earlier egg-laying, likely by mimicking a longer
photoperiod, and increased reproductive output without reducing offspring
quality. These increases in growth and reproduction should increase
fitness. Anoles, and potentially other taxa, may be resistant to some
negative effects of ALAN and able to take advantage of the novel niche
space ALAN creates. ALAN and both its negative and positive impacts may
play a crucial role in determining which species invade and exploit urban
environments.