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Johnny Noles, Biologist Chesapeake Bay [email protected] Understanding the Effects of Light Pollution...
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Transcript of Johnny Noles, Biologist Chesapeake Bay [email protected] Understanding the Effects of Light Pollution...
Johnny Noles, Biologist
Chesapeake Bay
Understanding the Effects
of
Light Pollution on Wildlife
INTRODUCTION
This presentation was created to provide International Dark Skies Association (IDA) members and concerned citizens a general information resource for discussion of light pollution problems with emphasis on the effects on wildlife. Feel free to use the whole or parts of the presentation for educational outreach.
Beginning with the contents on the following slide, The presentation begins with a pictorial introduction highlighting outdoor lighting and the basic effects of outdoor lighting on wildlife. It further goes on to compare light pollution with chemical pollution. It emphasizes the shortcomings of government regulations governing pollution. It provides an example of how environmental agencies are even responsible for the introduction of light pollution through public environmental regulatory programs. In the absence of light pollution regulations, it identifies public interest actions that have been initiated in the interest of wildlife conservation.
The presentation concludes with general recommendations for environmental agencies.
CONTENTS
I. Introduction
Pictorial Identification of Problem
Wildlife and Habitat Impact Issues
II. Understanding Light Pollution
Definition of Pollution
Observed Effects of Pollution
Comparing Light Pollution with Chemical Pollution
Light Pollution Regulation
III. Examples of How Environmental Agencies are Impacting the Environment with Light
Pollution
IV. Public Action Precedents in Wildlife Conservation and Light Pollution
V. Recommendations for Public Agencies
What are the effects of light pollution on wildlife and their
habitats?
I. Introduction
Virginia Wildlife Ecosystems Affected by Light Pollution
Chesapeake Bay
Coastal Barrier Islands
Mountain Ranges
Forests, rivers, streams, lakes
Urban habitats
Elements of Light Pollution Impacting Wildlife
Light Trespass
Sky Glow
Glare
Clutter
I. Introduction
sunrise sunsetNatural night sky
light pollution
Compare Lighting from Natural and Artificial Sources
“ what the critters see ”
I. Introduction
Light pollution is trespassing into wildlife habitat
Wildlife Concerns FromExposure to Light Pollution
Habitat Disturbance Wildlife Behavior Wildlife Survival
Wildlife Issue
I. Introduction
NOCTURNAL WILDLIFE
owls gray tree frog
yellow crowned night
heron
spotted seatrout
bats
Active at night, roost by day.
Some species species are rare, threatened and endangered species.
Some species provide human and ecological health benefits.
Some species provide economic benefits
What are the effects of light pollution on their habitat and behavior?I. Introduction
DIURNAL WILDLIFE
frogs songbirds waterfowldragonfly
Active by day, roost at night.
Some species are rare, protected and endangered species.
Some species provide human and ecological health benefits.
Some species provide economic benefits.
What are the effects of light pollution on their habitat and behavior?
I. Introduction
squirrels
Habitat Disturbance Observations
Disruption of natural day-night illumination cycle in natural areas.
Replacement of nocturnal (night) cycle by elevated levels of continuous artificial lighting over broad natural areas.
Greatest exposure of terrestrial habitats is mostly under tree canopy and over ground level areas which is the preferred zone of most
terrestrial wildlife inhabitation.
Aquatic habitats subject to light trespass from upland and shoreline human habitation. Water surface reflections magnify light pollution.
Light pollution in wildlife habitats mimic extended daylight conditions causing wildlife behavior to be unnaturally modified.
Exposure of wildlife circadian rhythms to light pollution.
Wildlife biodiversity at risk in light polluted nocturnal habitats.
Diminished habitat function (e.g., shelter, protection, food).
I. Introduction
Understanding Light Pollution
Does it fit the definition of a pollutant?
What are the common effects of pollutants?
What similarities do chemical and light pollutants have in common?
II. Understanding Light Pollution
DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF “POLLUTANT”
Pollute - to make unfit for or harmful to living things.
Pollutant - something that pollutes; a waste material that contaminates air, soil, or water.
Pollution - Contamination of air, soil, or water by the discharge of harmful substances.
Forms of pollutants and examples
Gas – carbon monoxide
Liquid - oil
Solid - asbestos
Light – streetlights
Noise – loud machineryII. Understanding Light Pollution
COMMONLY OBSERVEDEFFECTS OF HARMFUL POLLUTANTS
Behavior
Growth
Reproduction
Survival
Death
Habitat Modification
Pollutant Environmental Fate
Population Effects
II. Understanding Light Pollution
Similarities between Chemical and Light Pollution
Organism LP Impact Chemical* Light** Examples
Human Exposure yes yes urban/industrial settingsWildlife Exposure yes yes urban/industrial settingsAbnormal behavior yes yes migrations, attraction/avoidanceGrowth yes yes plants, cancer cellsReproduction yes yes mammals, amphibiansSurvival yes yes sea turtles, birdsDeath yes yes sea turtles, birds
* Sufficient data generated by studies on numerous chemicals.** Insufficient data; repeated observations of incidences and correlation to presence of artificial lighting.
II. Understanding Light Pollution
Habitat Modification yes yes coastal ecosystems* Population Effects yes yes sea turtles, birds
Pollutant Environmental Fate persistent persistent ubiquitous in urban/ or short-lived industrial environments
Ecological Imbalance yes yes coastal ecosystems *
Environmental Restoration expensive$$$ cheap$ Florida coasts** Cedar River,
WA**** Restoration benefits long term immediate Florida coasts**
Cedar River, WA****
* = Chesapeake Bay** = Sea turtle nesting
habitats*** = See slide #18 for
explanations**** = See slide #22 –
sockeye salmon habitat
Similarities between Chemical and Light Pollution
Chemical Light Examples
II. Understanding Light Pollution
PUBLIC POLLUTION REGULATION
Chemical pollution tightly regulated by public law and multiple agencies
Light pollution is not regulated by environmental agencies. Most agencies and many environmental interest groups are dead asleep on the issue
The States of Florida has set the precedent to regulate outdoor lighting strictly for wildlife conservation purposes.
II. Understanding Light Pollution
Agencies put the burden on local governments to control light pollution.
PUBLIC POLLUTION REGULATION
WRONG APPROACH!!!!! Light pollution needs the same attention as chemical pollution
Environmental agencies need to address light pollution as a regional ecosystem and wildlife conservation management approach.
Examples: Chesapeake Bay ProgramFlorida Everglades ProgramGreat Lakes Program
II. Understanding Light Pollution
Endangered Sea turtles in Florida
Life cycle consist of birth on land, spending life in ocean, returning to land only to nest
LIGHT POLLUTION IMPACTS
Beach nesting habitats exposed to bright outdoor shoreline lighting
Adults won’t come ashore to nest
Hatchlings emerge from sand nests, normally orientate towards starlit ocean
Artificial lights on beaches, coastal roads, and buildings disorientate hatchlings and adults that crawl away from the beach towards inland light sources.
Migratory disruptions from light pollution leads to death from dehydration, wildlife, domestic animals and human predation, and vehicle collusions
USA’s First Outdoor Lighting Ordinance for Wildlife Conservation
II. Understanding Light Pollution
EXAMPLES OF AGENCIES
IMPACTING THE ENVIRONMENT
WITH LIGHT POLLUTION
WETLANDS PERMITTING
Army Corp of Engineers, State Environmental Agencies and local Wetlands Boards
Permits do not address lighting on piers and waterfront structures
Nontarget lighting trespassing into wetlands and upland wildlife habitat
Problem magnified by water surface reflections
Disturbance and modification of wildlife habitat and behavior
Failure to address light pollution through wetlands regulations fosters impacts on wildlife environment, boating safety, public aesthetics and effectiveness of existing wetlands protection
efforts.
III. Examples of How Environmental Agencies are Impacting the Environment with Light Pollution
Light Pollution Impacts on Wildlife Through the Nationwide Wetlands Permitting Process
Potential for Water Quality Impacts
Unshielded pier and waterfront lighting penetrates the water column.
Artificial lighting promotes algal growth in surface waters
Algae feeding zooplankton uses natural light to migrate to deeper water for food. At night, they migrate to the surface. Artificial lights from piers and shore structures causes zooplankton to stay in deeper water when they should be feeding on the surface at night.
The disruption of zooplankton behavior and feeding cycles leads to algal blooms in the surface water.
Algal blooms associated with declining water quality conditions.
Light pollution-induced water quality effects are high for ponds, lakes, impoundments, and low flushing coastal watershed stream and river environments.
III. Examples of How Environmental Agencies are Impacting the Environment with Light Pollution
Public Action Precedents in Wildlife Conservation Involving Light Pollution
SEATURTLES - first identified light pollution indicator organism. Led to nation’s first public outdoor lighting ordinance in Florida for wildlife conservation purposes.
BIRDS – FLAP (Fatal Light Awareness Program) Highly successful Canadian public program aimed at reducing birds kills from collusions with lighted city buildings. Program identifies numerous bird species at risk from light pollution. Visit www.flap.org
SW USA ENDANGERED CAT SPECIES - US Border Patrol proposes putting up bright lights along US-Mexico border inhabited by endangered cats. USFWS presses for Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
IV. Public Action Precedents in Wildlife Conservation and Light Pollution
ENDANGERED CAT SPECIES - zoo breeding program observes Pallas cats’ reproductive difficulties in bright zoos. Pallas relocated to darker areas and reproduction activity returns to normal.
SPORT FISHES - Civil court case involving nocturnal seatrout species in Scotland. Fishermen claim seatrout fishing degraded by light pollution from adjacent property. Court supports sport fishermen with judgment supported by expert testimony on seatrouts’ nocturnal behavior.
In State of Washington, light trespassing into fish habitat from unshielded lights on Cedar River trails resulted in interference with sockeye salmon fry migration and an increase in predation pressures. Lights shielding by WA DOT reduced light trespass, enhanced habitat, and improved fish migratory passage.
Public Action Precedents in Wildlife Conservation Involving Light Pollution
IV. Public Action Precedents in Wildlife Conservation and Light Pollution
Public Action Precedents in Wildlife Conservation Involving Light Pollution
US NATIONAL PARK SERVICE is responding to public concerns about light pollution and loss of night sky aesthetics. National Park Service retrofitting existing lights with full cut off optics (FCO). Public night sky aesthetics restoration seen as a wildlife benefit
IV. Public Action Precedents in Wildlife Conservation and Light Pollution
MIGRATORY BIRDS - mortalities from collusions with lighted buildings and towers has led to USFWS guidance on lighted towers.
RECOMMENDATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES
Environmental agencies (EPA, NOAA, USFWS, USACOE) and environmental interest groups (Sierra Club, Audubon Society, etc., ) need to take more concerted action on light pollution as an environmental problem of significant concern.
Define artificial lighting as an environmental contaminant and ecological stressor.
Environmental agencies must provide funding to conduct scientific studies to investigate light pollution impacts on the environment and wildlife.
Environmental agencies must develop strategies and environmental regulations to address light pollution and protection of wildlife habitats.
Develop the Chesapeake Bay, Florida Everglades Restoration and Great Lakes Programs as nationwide models to reduce light pollution impacts on wildlife.
Public and private environmental programs can initiate outreach service to provide local wetlands boards, environmental interests groups and private citizens with education, regulatory guidance and funding on light pollution reduction.
DOD installations could set public example of light pollution reduction as a means of enhancing wildlife habitat, public night sky aesthetics and energy savings through DOD environmental stewardship programs, ecosystem management initiatives, retrofitting needed existing outdoor lights with FCO lighting, and using electronic security technology to replace outdoor lighting as primary means of security.
V. Recommendations for Public Agencies
RECOMMENDATIONS
LOCAL AGENCIES
Wetlands Regulatory - Army Corps of Engineers, State Agencies and Local Wetlands Boards
Issue pier and marina permits with light pollution environmental assessment and shielded lighting requirements.
Ban mercury vapor, sodium vapor and halide lights on residential and public piers, marinas and other waterfront structures. Use properly placed hooded alternate low illumination lamps instead for walkways and safety areas.
No water surface reflections or indirect light trespass into surrounding habitat and adjacent properties.
Use lowly illuminated hazard warning (yellow coded) lights on long piers and bridges to warn boater traffic of potential navigation hazard.
Require all waterfront property owners to comply with the environmental mandate to reduce light pollution in the wetlands and waterways.
Provide waterfront property owners with grants or awards to eliminate or retrofit existing lights to implement light pollution control as a habitat enhancement, wildlife conservation, boating safety enhancement, and public aesthetics enhancement initiative.
V. Recommendations for Public Agencies
Mosquito Control Commissions
Investigate Light Pollution
Observation fact: Light pollution sources attract insects.
Does light pollution (LP) foster the activities of mosquitoes?
Does LP hinder mosquito predators (e.g., birds, bats, insects)?
Conduct low cost sampling study of mosquitoes with semi-closed container and CO2 (dry ice).
Select sampling sites; presence/absence of LP.
Quantify and compare sampling counts with and without LP.
If data under LP conditions indicates increased activity, use data to support outdoor lighting ordinances as a public health initiative, pollution prevention and pest control cost saving measures.
Use same data to support ordinances to enhance the habitats of natural mosquito predator species.
Nocturnal - bats
Diurnal - dragonflies
Diurnal - martins
V.. Recommendations for Public Agencies