Understanding the Effects

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Understanding the Effects of Light Pollution on
Wildlife
Johnny Noles, Biologist Chesapeake
Bay mysids_at_aol.com
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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.
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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
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What are the effects of light pollution on
wildlife and their habitats?
I. Introduction
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Virginias 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
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Unshielded Artificial Lighting Light Pollution
I. Introduction
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Elements of Light Pollution Impacting Wildlife
Light Trespass Sky Glow Glare Clutter
I. Introduction
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Wildlife Issue
Light pollution is trespassing into wildlife
habitat Wildlife Concerns From Exposure to
Light Pollution Habitat Disturbance
Wildlife Behavior Wildlife Survival
I. Introduction
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Compare Lighting from Natural and Artificial
Sources what the critters see
Natural night sky
sunrise
sunset
light pollution
I. Introduction
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NOCTURNAL WILDLIFE
yellow crowned night heron
owls
gray tree frog
spotted sea trout
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
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DIURNAL WILDLIFE
frogs
songbirds
waterfowl
dragonfly
squirrels

• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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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
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• COMMONLY OBSERVED
• EFFECTS OF HARMFUL POLLUTANTS
• Behavior
• Growth
• Reproduction
• Survival
• Death
• Habitat Modification
• Pollutant Environmental Fate
• Population Effects

II. Understanding Light Pollution
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Similarities between Chemical and Light Pollution

• Organism Impact Chemical Light LP
  Examples
• Human Exposure yes yes urban/industrial
  settings
• Wildlife Exposure yes yes urban/industrial
  settings
• Abnormal behavior yes yes migrations,
  attraction/avoidance
• Growth yes yes plants, cancer
  cells
• Reproduction yes yes mammals,
  amphibians
• Survival yes
  yes sea turtles, birds
• Death 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
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Similarities between Chemical and Light Pollution
Chemical Light Examples

• 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 27 sockeye salmon habitat

II. Understanding Light Pollution
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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

• Chemical Pollution ()
• Source residual presence may persist after
  source is eliminated
• Environmental noncompliance fines
• Civil/criminal litigation costs
• Remediation/clean-up/disposal costs
• High Manpower/equipment costs
• Chemical Monitoring/recovery costs
• Long term recovery usually required
• Certain conditions may impede full recovery
• Public and wildlife health could potentially
  continue to be impacted after restoration.

• Light Pollution ()
• Source on/off no residual presence after
  source is eliminated
• Planning and design costs
• Equipment retrofit costs
• Disposal/recycle of old equipment
• Less manpower/equipment demand
• Low/no monitoring requirement
• Short term recovery anticipated
• Minimum impediment to full recovery
• Public and wildlife health could potentially be
  significantly improved after restoration.

II. Understanding Light Pollution
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LOOKING AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN HUMAN HEALTH
IMPACTS A MODEL FOR WILDLIFE EXPOSURE?

• Circadian rhythms set to natural cycle of day
  and night
• Light controls bodys 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?

II. Understanding Light Pollution
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• 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
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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 Chesapeake Bay Program
• Florida Everglades Program
• Great Lakes Program

II. Understanding Light Pollution
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USAs 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 wont 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
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• 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.

• Examples of How Environmental Agencies are
  Impacting the Environment with Light Pollution

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• Light Pollution Impacts on Wildlife Through the
  Nationwide Wetlands Permitting Process
• Example
• Egrets and herons Classified as Species of
  Concern
• 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

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• 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.

• Examples of How Environmental Agencies are
  Impacting the Environment with Light Pollution

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• Public Action Precedents in Wildlife Conservation
  Involving Light Pollution
• SEATURTLES - first identified light pollution
  indicator organism. Led to nations 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
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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
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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
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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
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Help for Wildlife Conservation from a Distant
Galaxy

• 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.

V. Help for Wildlife Conservation from a Distant
Galaxy
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www.darksky.org/ida/
IDA advocates shielded lighting and better
outdoor lighting planning

• Help for Wildlife Conservation from a Distant
  Galaxy

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• 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
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• 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.

VI. Recommendations for Public Agencies
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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)?
• 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
VI. Recommendations for Public Agencies
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LP Problems for Urban Habitats Homeowners
Backyard Habitat and Urban Park Managers 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
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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
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Wildlife Conservation
Restore the Nightsky
Enhance Wildlife Habitat
Through Light Pollution Control