Time to turn off the lights

Smith, Malcolm J.

doi:10.1038/457027a

Cited by 47 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The use of artificial illumination at night has seen a dramatic increase over the past few decades [1,2] and forms one of the major anthropogenic changes to our environment [3]. To date, knowledge on the impact of artificial light on our ecosystems is limited.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental illumination of natural habitat—an experimental set-up to assess the direct and indirect ecological consequences of artificial light of different spectral composition

Spoelstra

Grunsven

Donners

et al. 2015

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

133

149

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Artificial night-time illumination of natural habitats has increased dramatically over the past few decades. Generally, studies that assess the impact of artificial light on various species in the wild make use of existing illumination and are therefore correlative. Moreover, studies mostly focus on short-term consequences at the individual level, rather than long-term consequences at the population and community level—thereby ignoring possible unknown cascading effects in ecosystems. The recent change to LED lighting has opened up the exciting possibility to use light with a custom spectral composition, thereby potentially reducing the negative impact of artificial light. We describe here a large-scale, ecosystem-wide study where we experimentally illuminate forest-edge habitat with different spectral composition, replicated eight times. Monitoring of species is being performed according to rigid protocols, in part using a citizen-science-based approach, and automated where possible. Simultaneously, we specifically look at alterations in behaviour, such as changes in activity, and daily and seasonal timing. In our set-up, we have so far observed that experimental lights facilitate foraging activity of pipistrelle bats, suppress activity of wood mice and have effects on birds at the community level, which vary with spectral composition. Thus far, we have not observed effects on moth populations, but these and many other effects may surface only after a longer period of time.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental illumination of natural habitat—an experimental set-up to assess the direct and indirect ecological consequences of artificial light of different spectral composition

Spoelstra

Grunsven

Donners

et al. 2015

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

133

149

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“…Although artificial lighting has clearly enhanced the quality of human life (Jakle 2001, Doll et al 2006, the benefits are accompanied by hidden costs. Astronomers were the first to recognize that sky glow hampers the detection of faint celestial objects, obliging them to conduct their observations from darker areas or from orbit (Riegel 1973, Smith 2009. It is only very recently that the multiple negative effects of artificial lighting on ecology, human health, and social well-being have gained broader recognition (Jakle 2001, Rich and Longcore 2006, Navara and Nelson 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The artificial disturbance of the natural day/night cycle may, as a result, have serious psycho-physiological and even medical consequences for humans, along with ecological and evolutionary implications for animals, plants, and even entire terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems Longcore 2006, Navara andNelson 2007). Light pollution is most probably an important but underestimated driver behind the erosion of provisioning, e.g., loss of light-sensitive species and genotypes; regulating, e.g., decline of nocturnal pollinators such as moths and bats; and cultural ecosystem services, e.g., loss of aesthetic values such as the visibility of the Milky Way (Rich and Longcore 2006, Carpenter et al 2009, Smith 2009. The principal effects become most apparent at the interfaces between the physiological, ecological, and socioeconomic realms (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Dark Side of Light: A Transdisciplinary Research Agenda for Light Pollution Policy

Hölker¹,

Moss²,

Griefahn³

et al. 2010

E&S

438

330

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ABSTRACT. Although the invention and widespread use of artificial light is clearly one of the most important human technological advances, the transformation of nightscapes is increasingly recognized as having adverse effects. Night lighting may have serious physiological consequences for humans, ecological and evolutionary implications for animal and plant populations, and may reshape entire ecosystems. However, knowledge on the adverse effects of light pollution is vague. In response to climate change and energy shortages, many countries, regions, and communities are developing new lighting programs and concepts with a strong focus on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. Given the dramatic increase in artificial light at night (0 -20% per year, depending on geographic region), we see an urgent need for light pollution policies that go beyond energy efficiency to include human well-being, the structure and functioning of ecosystems, and inter-related socioeconomic consequences. Such a policy shift will require a sound transdisciplinary understanding of the significance of the night, and its loss, for humans and the natural systems upon which we depend. Knowledge is also urgently needed on suitable lighting technologies and concepts which are ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable. Unless managing darkness becomes an integral part of future conservation and lighting policies, modern society may run into a global self-experiment with unpredictable outcomes.

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“…However, poorly designed outdoor lighting systems and excessive illumination levels can lead to light pollution (Smith 2009;Marín & Jafari 2007). The scattering of artificial light by cloud, aerosol, and pollutants such as suspended particulates in the atmosphere spread the effects to distances beyond the position of the lighting source and can brighten the entire night sky (Benn & Ellison 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contributions of artificial lighting sources on light pollution in Hong Kong measured through a night sky brightness monitoring network

Pun

Leung

et al. 2014

Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer

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Light pollution is a form of environmental degradation in which excessive artificial outdoor lighting, such as street lamps, neon signs, and illuminated signboards, affects the natural environment and the ecosystem. Poorly designed outdoor lighting not only wastes energy, money, and valuable Earth resources, but also robs us of our beautiful night sky. Effects of light pollution on the night sky can be evaluated by the skyglow caused by these artificial lighting sources, through measurements of the night sky brightness (NSB). The Hong Kong Night Sky Brightness Monitoring Network (NSN) was established to monitor in detail the conditions of light pollution in Hong Kong. Monitoring stations were set up throughout the city covering a wide range of urban and rural settings to continuously measure the variations of the NSB. Over 4.6 million night sky measurements were collected from 18 distinct locations between May 2010 and March 2013. This huge dataset, over two thousand times larger than our previous survey (Pun & So 2012), forms the backbone for studies of the temporal and geographical variations of this environmental parameter and its correlation with various natural and artificial factors. The concepts and methodology of the NSN were presented here, together with an analysis of the overall night sky conditions in Hong Kong. The average NSB in Hong Kong, excluding data affected by the Moon, was 16.8 mag arcsec −2 , or 82 times brighter than the dark site standard established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) (Smith 1979). The urban night sky was on average 15 times brighter than that in a rural location, firmly establishing the effects of artificial lighting sources on the night sky.

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Time to turn off the lights

Cited by 47 publications

References 4 publications

Experimental illumination of natural habitat—an experimental set-up to assess the direct and indirect ecological consequences of artificial light of different spectral composition

Experimental illumination of natural habitat—an experimental set-up to assess the direct and indirect ecological consequences of artificial light of different spectral composition

The Dark Side of Light: A Transdisciplinary Research Agenda for Light Pollution Policy

Contributions of artificial lighting sources on light pollution in Hong Kong measured through a night sky brightness monitoring network

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