The influence of light pollution on the animal world

The influence of light pollution on the animal world

The increasing human-nature interaction in the modern world has led to more and more natural processes are being disturbed. One of the keywords that are often overlooked in this context is light pollution - the excessive or uncontrolled artificial lighting in the area. Light pollution is not only a disturbance for astronomers, it also has serious effects on the wildlife. In this article we discuss the influence of light pollution on the animal world.

light pollution: an introductory explanation

In order to fully understand the effects on the wildlife, it is initially important to understand the nature of light pollution itself. Light pollution occurs when the natural darkness of the night is disturbed by artificial light sources. This can be done at various levels, including street lighting, advertising signs, building and sports audience lighting as well as the generally bright illumination of cities and industrial areas.

types of light pollution

There are different types of light pollution, including direct glare, light scattering, lighting dominance and light. Direct glare refers to unpleasant or excessive brightness. Light dominance refers to the prevailing brightness of certain light sources via natural or lower light sources. Light scatter occurs when the light is scattered across the entire spectrum instead of being directed towards a certain area. Lichttrespass refers to undesirable or annoying light that penetrates areas in which it is not required.

natural cycles and animals

In order to understand the influence of light pollution on animals, we should consider the importance of the nightly darkness and the daily and seasonal light pattern for animals. Many animals rely on the darkness of the night for their activities. These activities include food and hunting behavior, migratory movements, mating behavior and general behavior. Distribution in the natural light pattern can impair these behaviors and the livelihoods of the animals can be seriously endangered.

migratory birds

Migratory birds are an example of animals that are severely affected by light pollution. These birds use the moon and the stars, among other things, to set ways for their hiking routes. False light that overlaps its natural signals can mislead the birds and impair their ability to achieve the goal. Furthermore, nocturnal migratory birds can be confused and attracted by bright light sources, which leads to collisions with buildings and other human structures.

sea turtles

Sea turtles, especially newborns, are also disturbed by artificial light. After hatching, young animals are intuitive towards the brightest horizon - this is the sea in natural conditions. In areas with strong ambient light from human activities, young animals often get lost through exhaustion, predators or human influences.

summary and proposed solutions

It is obvious that light pollution is a serious and often overlooked threat to the worldwide wildlife. The first step towards solving this problem is awareness. Public education initiatives can help to raise the general awareness and to expand the understanding of the effects of light pollution.

Reduction of light pollution

Authorities and appropriate institutions should consider measures to reduce light pollution. This can only be achieved by using dark sky-conformer lighting, limiting the lighting during the night hours and promoting the use of lighting if and where it is needed.

protected areas

In addition, protected areas or "dark sky" parks can be set up in which the lighting is strictly controlled in order to enable natural habitats an undisturbed darkness. These areas can offer both a safe habitat and a safe corridor for hikes for numerous animals.

Ultimately, light pollution is a man -made threat that can also be alleviated by human action and potentially reversed. In view of the significant effects that light pollution has on the wildlife, it is essential that we take measures both on an individual and social level to combat this persistent trend.