Effects of artificial light on bird movement and distribution: a systematic map

Abstract

Background Artificial light is ubiquitous in the built environment with many known or suspected impacts on birds. Birds flying at night are known to aggregate around artificial light and collide with illuminated objects, which may result from attraction and/or disorientation. In other contexts, birds are repelled by light-based deterrents, including lasers and spotlights. Artificial light can also change birds’ perceptions of habitat quality, resulting in selection or avoidance of illuminated areas. Studies documenting aggregation, deterrence, and habitat selection are typically considered separate literature bodies, but they actually study a common set of populations, interventions/exposures, and responses. Our systematic map provides a comprehensive, searchable database of evidence of the effects of artificial light on bird movement and distribution, increasing both the quantity and diversity of studies that are accessible for further comparison and synthesis. We identify and describe the evidence available for four secondary questions relevant to conservation or management: aggregation/mortality at structures with artificial lights, evidence that light attracts and/or disorients birds, light-based deterrent efficacy, and the influence of continuous illumination on habitat selection. Methods Using the principles of systematic reviews and methods published in an earlier protocol, we conducted an extensive and interdisciplinary literature search. We searched multidisciplinary citation indices as well as databases and websites specific to conservation, pest management, transportation, and energy. In our map, we included all studies reporting eligible populations (birds), interventions/exposures (artificial light), and outcomes (movement through space, behaviour preceding movement, or distribution). We evaluated the quantity of available evidence based on meta-data fields related to study context, population traits, light source characteristics, and outcome variables. We used these meta-data to identify relevant evidence for each secondary question and describe aspects of our secondary questions that may support reviews (evidence clusters) and others that require more research (knowledge gaps). Review findings We manually screened 26,208 articles and coded meta-data for 490 eligible studies in a searchable database, organizing the literature to facilitate future reviews and evidence-based management. Much of the evidence was concentrated in particular locations (Northern hemisphere), taxonomic orders (Passeriformes, Charadriiformes, and others), and light wavelengths (red and white). We identified 56 distinct response variables and organized them into 3 categories (behaviour, distribution, and avian community), showing the diversity in bird responses to light. Conclusions Our database can be used to answer the secondary questions we identified and other questions about the effects of artificial light on bird movement and resulting changes to distribution. There may be sufficient evidence for a review of the weather and lunar conditions associated with collisions, which could help identify nights when reduction of artificial light is most important. Further experiments should investigate whether specific types of light can reduce collisions by increasing the detectability of structures with artificial lights. The efficacy of lasers as deterrents could be evaluated through systematic review, though more studies are needed for UV/violet lasers. To reduce the impacts of outdoor lighting on birds, research should investigate how spectral composition of white light influences bird attraction, orientation, and habitat selection.

Migration and the excess exposure of birds to human density in North America

“…First, species that migrate at night are exposed to greater excess human density. Nocturnally migrating species are known to be disoriented by artificial light at night (Gauthreaux & Belser 2006;Adams et al 2021), which may lead birds to spend more time in human-modified areas. During overcast conditions, some birds may also use artificial light to navigate (Weisshaupt et al 2022).…”

“…As predictors, we considered several traits related to migration biology: the Julian date when the species starts its northward migration within North America, the overall distance the species migrates, and the time of day (nocturnal or diurnal) when its migration flight primarily occurs (Gauthreaux & Belser 2006;Van Doren et al 2017;McLaren et al 2018;Adams et al 2021).…”

“…Finally, we use a comparative analysis to examine species differences in exposure to excess HPOP during migration, which we define as the difference between HPOP mig and HPOP breed . We consider as predictors several traits 5 related to migration biology, including the annual timing of a species' migration through North America, the distance the species migrates, and the time of day (nocturnal or diurnal) when migration flight primarily occurs (Gauthreaux & Belser 2006;Van Doren et al 2017;McLaren et al 2018;Adams et al 2021). Overall, this is the first work to characterize how a broad range of migratory bird species respond to HPOP during migration.…”

“…The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted November 29, 2022. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.11.28.518244 doi: bioRxiv preprint 5 related to migration biology, including the annual timing of a species' migration through North America, the distance the species migrates, and the time of day (nocturnal or diurnal) when migration flight primarily occurs (Gauthreaux & Belser 2006;Van Doren et al 2017;McLaren et al 2018;Adams et al 2021). Overall, this is the first work to characterize how a broad range of migratory bird species respond to HPOP during migration.…”

Transforming Conservation

“…One good quality, recent systematic map of the English literature (Adams et al, 2021) found 88 papers on using light to deter birds.…”