Transcript Understanding the effect of light pollution on

Johnny Noles, Biologist
Chesapeake Bay
[email protected]
INTRODUCTION
This presentation was created to provide International Dark-Sky 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 an appeal to the wildlife conservation
community to join forces with the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)
to promote wildlife habitat enhancement through light pollution reduction.
General recommendations for environmental agencies and homeowners are
provided for guidance purposes.
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.
Help for Wildlife Conservation from a Distant Galaxy
VI.
Recommendations for Public Agencies and Homeowners
What are the effects of light pollution on
wildlife and their habitats?
I. Introduction
Virginia’s Light Pollution Signature
Mountains
Chesapeake Bay
watershed
Coastal
Barrier
Islands
Dismal Swamp
Virginia Wildlife Ecosystems Affected by Light Pollution
What About Your State, Providence or Country?
I. Introduction
Unshielded Artificial Lighting = Light Pollution
I. Introduction
Elements of Light Pollution Impacting Wildlife
Light Trespass
Sky Glow
Glare
Clutter
I. Introduction
Wildlife Issue
Light pollution is trespassing into wildlife habitat
Wildlife Concerns From
Exposure to Light Pollution
Habitat Disturbance
Wildlife Behavior
Wildlife Survival
I. Introduction
Compare Lighting from Natural
and Artificial Sources
“ what
sunrise
the critters see ”
sunset
Natural night sky
light pollution
I. Introduction
NOCTURNAL WILDLIFE
owls
gray tree
frog
yellow
crowned night
heron
spotted sea trout
 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
bats
DIURNAL WILDLIFE
dragonfly
frogs
squirrels
songbirds
 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
waterfowl
Habitat Disturbance Observations








I. Introduction
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).
Understanding Light Pollution
II.

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?
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 machinery
II.
Understanding Light Pollution
COMMONLY OBSERVED
EFFECTS OF HARMFUL POLLUTANTS
II.

Behavior

Growth

Reproduction

Survival

Death

Habitat Modification

Pollutant Environmental Fate

Population Effects
Understanding Light Pollution
Similarities between Chemical and Light Pollution
Organism Impact







Chemical* Light** LP Examples
Human Exposure
Wildlife Exposure
Abnormal behavior
Growth
Reproduction
Survival
Death
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
urban/industrial settings
urban/industrial settings
migrations, attraction/avoidance
plants, cancer cells
mammals, amphibians
sea turtles, birds
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
Similarities between Chemical and Light Pollution
Chemical Light
 Habitat Modification
 Population Effects
 Pollutant Environmental Fate
Ecological Imbalance
yes
yes
persistent
or short-lived
yes
 Environmental Restoration*** expensive$$$
 Restoration benefits
long term
yes
yes
persistent
Understanding Light Pollution
coastal ecosystems*
sea turtles, birds
ubiquitous in urban/
industrial environments
yes
coastal ecosystems *
cheap$
Florida coasts**
Cedar River, WA****
Florida coasts**
Cedar River, WA****
immediate
* =
** =
*** =
**** =
II.
Examples
Chesapeake Bay
Sea turtle nesting habitats
See slide #18 for explanations
See slide #27 – sockeye salmon habitat
Environmental Restoration Comparison
“Cleaning the Problem Up”
Hypothetical scenario – compare 10 acres of land in watershed environment
contaminated by either hazardous chemicals or light pollution
II.
Chemical Pollution ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$)
Light Pollution ($)
 Source – residual presence may persist after
source is eliminated
 Source – on/off; no residual presence
after source is eliminated
 Environmental noncompliance fines
 Planning and design costs
 Civil/criminal litigation costs
 Equipment retrofit costs
 Remediation/clean-up/disposal costs
 Disposal/recycle of old equipment
 High Manpower/equipment costs
 Less manpower/equipment demand
 Chemical Monitoring/recovery costs
 Low/no monitoring requirement
 Long term recovery usually required
 Short term recovery anticipated
 Certain conditions may impede full recovery
 Minimum impediment to full recovery
 Public and wildlife health could potentially
continue to be impacted after restoration.
 Public and wildlife health could
potentially be significantly improved
after restoration.
Understanding Light Pollution
LOOKING AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD
CHAIN
HUMAN HEALTH IMPACTS
A MODEL FOR WILDLIFE EXPOSURE?
II.

Circadian rhythms set to natural cycle of day and night

Light controls body’s internal clock or “circadian rhythm”

Immune System is circadian

Correlation between low melatonin levels and cancer in humans

Wildlife in or near urban areas may have more exposure to light
pollution than humans

What are the physiological effects of light pollution on wildlife?

Could possible physiological changes resulting from light
pollution exposure result in the decline of wildlife species?
Understanding Light Pollution
PUBLIC POLLUTION REGULATION



II.
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.
Understanding Light Pollution
PUBLIC POLLUTION REGULATION

Agencies put the burden on local governments to
control light pollution.
WRONG APPROACH!!!!!


Light pollution needs the same attention as
chemical pollution
Environmental agencies need to address light
pollution as a regional ecosystem and wildlife
management approach.
Examples:
II.
Understanding Light Pollution
Chesapeake Bay Program
Florida Everglades Program
Great Lakes Program
USA’s First Outdoor Lighting Ordinance for Wildlife Conservation
Endangered Sea turtles in Florida
Life cycle consists 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
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





III.
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.
Examples of How Environmental Agencies are Impacting the Environment with Light Pollution
Light Pollution Impacts on Wildlife Through the
Nationwide Wetlands Permitting Process
Example:
Egrets and herons – Classified as Species of Concern


III.
Open nests in trees along urban waterways and marshes
Property owners install unshielded lights on piers and upland property
that trespass into nesting habitats. Water surface reflections magnify
the lighting.

Nesting species exposed to light pollution, behavior altered and
subject to increased predation by nocturnal raptors, other wildlife
predators and domestic animals

Nesting parents leave nests for prolonged periods to forage in light
polluted areas



Nestlings fall out of nests; survival diminishes
Some species show avoidance of light polluted habitat
Some species are attracted to light sources to feed on other dietary
organisms that are similarly attracted to lights
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
Public Action Precedents in Wildlife Conservation Involving
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.
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
 MIGRATORY BIRDS - mortalities from collisions
with lighted buildings and towers has led to USFWS
guidance on lighted towers.
IV.
Public Action Precedents in Wildlife Conservation and Light Pollution
Innovative Communities with Light Pollution Control
That Benefit Wildlife and Public
Ocean Reef, Florida - private development in Key
Largo, Florida with no street lights. Surrounding
mangrove and waterway habitats enhanced.
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina - Resort with
lighting ordinances requiring light shields,
placement and low height requirements.
Surrounding beach, maritime forest and marsh
habitats enhanced.
Palm Beach County and Sanibel Island, Florida public outdoor lighting ordinances for coastal
wildlife conservation and tourism. Beach and
shore habitats enhanced.
IV.
Public Action Precedents in Wildlife Conservation and Light Pollution
Help for Wildlife Conservation from a Distant Galaxy
V.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) – a non-profit
organization led by astronomers and citizens promoting “to
preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our
heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting”.

IDA actively promotes worldwide light pollution reduction
through public education, lighting standards and public
outdoor lighting ordinances.

IDA advocates light pollution reduction for wildlife
conservation and habitat enhancement purposes.

IDA needs more support from wildlife scientific and
conservation communities.
Help for Wildlife Conservation from a Distant Galaxy
International Dark-Sky Association
3225 N. First Ave., Tucson AZ 85719 USA
(520) 293-3198 (voice) (520) 293-3192 (fax)
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.darksky.org/ida/
IDA advocates shielded lighting and better
outdoor lighting planning
V.
Help for Wildlife Conservation from a Distant Galaxy
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.
VI.
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.
VI.

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.
Recommendations for Public Agencies
Mosquito Control Commissions
Light Pollution Considerations
 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)?
Nocturnal - bats
 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.
Diurnal - dragonflies
 Use same data to support ordinances to enhance the habitats of natural
mosquito predator species.
Diurnal - martins
VI.
Recommendations for Public Agencies
LP Problems for Urban Habitats
Homeowners Backyard Habitat and
Urban Park Manager’s Habitat Guide
 Light pollution increases domestic animal activity at
night; increases domestic animal predation on wildlife
 Birds venture away from nests at night, may
abandoned nests; hatchlings fall out.
 Alters behavior of wildlife
 Decreases survival of young wildlife
 Makes habitat less suitable for good wildlife
 Deciduous trees and plants experience delayed
winter dormancy that increases susceptibility to stress
and diseases on light polluted properties
 Homeowners and park patrons cannot enjoy night
landscape and wildlife benefits of their own properties
or park if there are lights trespassing from other
properties.
VI: Recommendations for Homeowners
RECOMMENDATIONS
for
DEVELOPERS, HOMEOWNERS,
URBAN PARK MANAGERS
 Design lighting with full cut off optics (FCOs), short heights, light shielding,
low illumination accent lighting, timers and motion sensors to focus nontarget
lighting downwards on target area and away from trees, flowerbeds, shrubs,
fields, forests, and wetlands.
 Design wildlife friendly landscaping. Consult your local nurseries and
landscaping firms for tips and tricks.
 Consult local Audubon Society, Sierra Club or other wildlife interest groups
for tips on how to develop backyard wildlife habitats.
 Use tall rapid growth evergreen trees and shrubs screen out unwanted
lighting from adjacent properties.
 Turn off all yard lights if possible, especially when not in use.
 A light pollution free yard increases wildlife values, night sky access and
residential property and urban park values.
VI: Recommendations for Homeowners