Light pollution isn't just a problem for astronomers anymore.
Light pollution isn't just a problem for astronomers anymore. Here in Florida, sea turtle populations are being heavily impacted which has prompted most coastal counties in the state to adopt some form of dark sky ordinance along the beaches. In addition, many birds and animals are affected by stray light intruding into their night world, confusing their natural patterns, deterring them from established foraging areas, and affecting their breeding cycles (causing premature breeding). This is not just limited to urban areas; the detrimental effect of light pollution penetrates deep into the heart of our rural landscape
We distinguish “astronomical light pollution”, which obscures the view of the night sky, from “ecological light pollution”, which alters natural light regimes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Some of the consequences of light for certain taxonomic groups are well known, such as the deaths of migratory birds around tall lighted structures, and those of hatchling sea turtles disoriented by lights on their natal beaches. The more subtle influences of artificial night lighting on the behavior and community ecology of species are less well recognized, and constitute a new focus for research in ecology and a pressing conservation challenge.
General Information
Florida Section of the International Dark Sky Association
Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Wildlife, International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) - Information Sheet #187: Excellent and succinct resource about how different species are affected by light pollution.
Deprived of Darkness: the Unnatural Ecology of Artificial Light at Night, by Ben Harder, Science News, April 20, 2002
Ecological Light Pollution, by Travis Longcore and Catherine Rich
Sea turtle populations in Florida
Artificial Lighting and the Recovery of Sea Turtles, Michael Salmon, et al. (2000). Sea Turtles of the Indo-Pacific: Research, Management, and Conservation.
Saving Sea Turtles With a Lights-Out Policy in Florida, by Fredrica Lindsay, National Geogrphic News, March 10, 2003
Laws and Regulations Protecting Sea Turtles: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission - from this link you can view the applicable laws and regulations, and also see which Florida counties have dark sky ordinances.
Artificial Lighting and Sea Turtle Hatchling Behavior, FWC - Artificial lighting on marine turtle nesting beaches disrupts the ability of hatchlings to find the sea from their nest, an effect termed "hatchling disorientation."
Other species specific information
Campaign for Dark Skies has compiled a list of species specific resources.
International Dark-Sky Association has also compiled species specific resources.
Effect of Lighting on Wildlife Flora and Fauna, The Urban Wildlands Group: a bibliography of journal articles with abstracts.
Impact of Outdoor Lighting on Moths: an Assessment, Kenneth D. Frank (1988), Journal of The Lepidopterists' Society, 42(2).
Lights from Beachfront Development Harm Endangered Beach Mice, University of Florida News, November 17, 2004.
The Impact of Artificial Night Lighting on Nocturnal
Amphibians
(pdf)
By Sharon Wise & Bryant Buchanan, Department of Biology, Utica College of Syracuse University.
Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting: Conference Abstracts, The Urban Wildlands Group and the UCLA Institute of the Environment. Los Angeles, California, February 23-24, 2002.
