| 總結: | Artificial light at night (ALAN), also known as light pollution, is a growing environmental problem worldwide. However, only a few studies have examined whether soil organisms that search for food at the surface at night can be affected by ALAN. We investigated the effects of ALAN on the above-ground foraging activity of anecic earthworms (<i>Lumbricus terrestris</i>), on the soil water infiltration and on the germination and growth of a cover crop (<i>Phacelia tanacetifolia</i>). In a full-factorial greenhouse experiment, we tested four factors: ALAN (about 5 lx during the night vs. total darkness), earthworms (two specimens vs. none), plant species (<i>Phacelia</i> alone vs. mixed with ragweed <i>Ambrosia artemisiifolia</i>) and sowing depth (surface-sown vs. sown in 5 cm depth). Data were analysed using multifactorial ANOVAs. Earthworms removed 51% less surface litter under ALAN than under dark conditions. ALAN had no effect on <i>Phacelia</i> germination but resulted in increased height growth and biomass production when the seeds were buried. Earthworms reduced <i>Phacelia</i> germination and biomass production. ALAN reduced water leaching through the experimental units, probably due to interactions between the subsurface casts and plant roots. We conclude that ALAN, as emitted from streetlights, can lead to complex ecological effects in ecosystems that merit further investigation.
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