Evidences of moon-related effects on animal behaviour

摘要

The moon is the most obvious celestial object in the night sky. At full moon, levels of illuminance are approximately 25 times greater than at the quarter moon, and 250 times greater than on a moonless night (1). Thus, it is no wonder that there is now a growing body of evidence indicating that the moon's phases influence the behavioural activity of numerous species in the animal world, including in human activity and sleep patterns (2). Indeed, in human culture, there have been long-held popular beliefs about the phases of the moon and how they affect human behaviour. Moreover, evidence for such beliefs exists in the etymological links of words still in common usage, but having their origins in Latin (Luna) or ancient Greek (Mene).