The Conversation contributed the article to Space.com's expert voices.
Therésa Jones is an associate professor of evolution and behavior.
The University of Melbourne has a post-doctoral research associate.
As the moon rises on a warm evening in early summer, thousands of baby turtles emerge and begin their perilous journey towards the ocean, while millions of insects take to the air to find a mate.
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The nocturnal behaviors evolved to take advantage of darkness. Artificial lighting is threatening them today.
There are stars in the sky.
Artificial light at night is used to mask natural light cycles. The moon's natural cycle can be disrupted by its presence. Changing hormones associated with day-night cycles of some species and changing the timing of daily activities is one of the consequences of this.
The spread of artificial light at night makes it one of the fastest growing pollutants. It has been linked to changes in the structure of animal communities and declines in the number of animals.
Light at night attracts and repels. Artificial lights are attractive to animals living in urban environments. Turtles can drown in a swimming pool or be run over by a vehicle if they go inland. Thousands of insects are trapped and confused around urban lights, which can cause them to die if they don't find a mate. Female fireflies produce bioluminescent signals to attract a mate, but this light cannot compete with street lighting, so they may fail to reproduce.
Millions of birds are killed or injured every year because they are trapped in the beams of bright urban lights. They are drawn away from their natural migration pathways into urban environments with limited resources and food.
Bats and mammals shy away from lights. The habitats and resources that they need to live and reproduce are reduced by this. Street lighting is a form of habitat destruction where a light instead of a road cuts through the darkness needed for their natural habitat. Humans can return to their home and block out the lights, but wildlife can't.
Light at night is beneficial for some species. Foraging time can be extended by species that are only active during the day. Nocturnal spiders and geckos eat a lot of insects around lights. This doesn't mean that there are no hidden costs. Exposure to light at night can affect immune function, health, and development of offspring, according to research with insects and spiders.
Bird migrations are some of the longest journeys taken by any animal, & migratory birds face many dangers along the way, including the effects of light pollution.To help protect them, we must #DimLightsForBirds. #WorldMigratoryBirdDay 🕊️🐧: https://t.co/DMCitMNUl5 pic.twitter.com/F0VNGzPswNMay 16, 2022
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There are some real world examples. In Florida, many urban beaches use amber-colored lights, which are less attractive to turtles, and turn off street lights when the turtles are in the area. New street lights on Philip Island are amber and are turned off during the fledging period to reduce deaths.
In New York, the Tribute in Light is turned off for 20 minutes to allow birds to escape and to reduce the attraction of the structure to migrate.
These strategies have reduced the impact of night lighting on the environment.
Over 200 places around the world have reclaimed Dark Sky status, pushing back against the light pollution that has stopped humans and animals alike from accessing the darkness of the starlit night sky. https://t.co/chNvY5ze4IJuly 1, 2022
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While these targeted measures are effective, they don't solve the problem. Many countries have outdoor lighting standards but they are not always enforced and are often open to interpretation.
There are things you can do to help someone else.
Light pollution is easy to fix because we can't turn on the lights and allow the night to be illuminated by the moon.
Logistically, this is not possible as lights are used for the benefit of humans who are often reluctant to give up. Artificial light allows humans to exploit the night for work, leisure and play, but it also changes the environment for other species.
There are other management approaches we can take if the lights are not turned off. We have the ability to limit their number, reduce their intensity, and possibly change their color. Some colors of light, such asambers and reds, may be less harmful than blue-rich white lights, according to research.
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