Responses of insectivorous bats and nocturnal insects to local changes in street light technology

Abstract

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Threat analysis of modelled potential migratory routes forMiniopterus natalensisin South Africa

“…Bats also appear to be affected by the colour spectrum emitted by electric lights, although responses are species-specific (Haddock 2019). Responses to light are likely associated with echolocation and flight morphology, where open-air, fast-flying foragers appear to be attracted to street lights and slow-flying clutter and clutter-edge foragers avoid street lights (Stone et al 2009;Haddock et al 2019). In South Africa, species like the little free-tailed bat Chaerephon pumilus, T. aegyptiaca, the large free-tailed bat Otomops martiensseni and the yellow-bellied house bat Scotophilus dinganii appear to be well adapted to urbanised landscapes and exploit lights as foraging opportunities (Schoeman 2016).…”

“…2009; Haddock et al . 2019). In South Africa, species like the little free‐tailed bat Chaerephon pumilus , T .…”

Knowledge exchange to improve research and management of the impacts of artificial light at night

“…Currently, over 80% of the global population live under light-polluted skies (Falchi et al 2016), and artificial light at night (ALAN) is increasing globally by around 2% per year (Kyba et al 2017). ALAN is thus a global driver of significant environmental change and loss of biodiversity, affecting the behaviour, physiology, reproduction, and survival of many terrestrial (Willmott et al 2018;Haddock et al 2019), freshwater (Br€ uning et al 2011;Perkin et al 2014) and marine organisms (Bolton et al 2017;Fobert et al 2019). Furthermore, ALAN has the capacity to alter evolution through its influence on natural and sexual selection, reproductive isolation, gene flow and genetic drift (Hopkins et al 2018).…”

“…Of those, only 5 were on marine systems and 7 were done on freshwater habitats and/or species. Critically, however, only three of these papers addressed the issue of artificial light at nightall within the terrestrial environmentwith only one study published in the last year (Haddock et al 2019). Haddock et al (2019) recorded decreased bat activity in lit urban areas compared to unlit areas of urban bushlands remnants.…”

“…Critically, however, only three of these papers addressed the issue of artificial light at nightall within the terrestrial environmentwith only one study published in the last year (Haddock et al 2019). Haddock et al (2019) recorded decreased bat activity in lit urban areas compared to unlit areas of urban bushlands remnants. The authors also found that changing streetlights from mercury vapour to light-emitting diode (LED) lights resulted in decreased bat activity in the lit areas.…”