From a colony to a superpower in only 200 years
Light bulbs are great. They took off quickly after they were invented in the 19th century and they have, of course, become commonplace.
Artificial light allows us to extend the day into the night and, quite simply, to get more done. Imagine how limited you’d be in winter without your light switches.
But it has recently come to the attention of scientists that this lit-up life comes at a price, and that price is sadly the welfare of our planet’s beloved wildlife.
To understand the way in which artificial light messes with wildlife, you should think of the Sun as being like a huge, very hot clock.
If you’ve ever been on an airplane at night, you’ll be familiar with the sight of cities ablaze with street lights, apartment window lights, and billboards.
Often it is not until we view cities from a distance that we really notice how much artificial light they come alive with at night.
Flooding the planet with artificial light serves to disrupt this natural rhythm in a way that can be very harmful towards the wildlife that relies on it.
And it’s not just birds who are suffering at the hands of light pollution; in fact, there are many species that are feeling the same impact.
The birds were flying low that night due to poor conditions and, already disoriented, they were drawn off course by the lights in the city and flew straight into glass buildings.
A study from 2019 shows that artificial light, no matter its source, is a key driver in what experts refer to as the “insect apocalypse.” This refers to the declining global population of creepy crawlies.
But light pollution affects insects in other ways too. For example, light pollution impacts the foraging behavior of insects, which makes it harder for them to find food.
If you’ve ever been in a lit room in the countryside at night, you’ll know that insects have a tendency to lurk around light bulbs, where they often get eaten by predators or die of exhaustion.
In October 2020, the issue came to public attention when Stephen Maciejewski posted a picture to social media of dozens of glorious, colorful birds dead after a mass collision.
Birds in particular are known to suffer from the effects of light pollution. It is estimated that between 100 million and one billion birds die each year in the US from flying into buildings.
For certain species of bat, light means that a predator is present. These species can find themselves in cities where they have nowhere to go.
Turtles find their nesting behavior disrupted by artificial light. Sometimes newly-hatched marine turtles are even drawn away from the ocean, making it less likely they’ll ever reach water.
According to the executive director of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), "Every single creature that has been studied in terms of the relationship between light and those creatures' habits has found detrimental impacts."
Fish are affected by artificial light because it suppresses melatonin, the hormone that they rely on for their sleep patterns and their internal clock for reproduction and growth.
So what can we do about all this? In theory, the solution is simple: we should not use artificial light. In practice, of course, this is complicated. Modern life requires lighting.
Even humans aren’t off the hook: artificial light disturbs our natural circadian rhythms, and exposure at night has been linked to diabetes, mood disorders, and certain cancers.
It seems that our best bet would be to continue to use artificial light, but to do so in a responsible way that minimizes use wherever possible.
In the UK, politicians have formed an all-parliamentary group for dark skies protection. The group has released a policy plan to reduce light pollution and support dark sky places.
In 2019, France introduced similar laws on outdoor lighting, and so far the country has seen a 6% decrease in light pollution.
There are ways we can all help on an individual level, too. It’s not all about billboards, street lights and huge, lit commercial buildings.
Some countries have already introduced legislation aimed at tackling the problem. In 2007, Slovenia passed a law that requires outdoor lighting to be shaded and not exceed a certain brightness.
Of course, persuading people to make these changes is easier said than done, and it’s not only because it requires a conscious effort.
Things that we can do as individuals include closing our curtains at night, lighting only what needs to be lit, and making sure that security lights are carefully focused.
The link between light pollution and struggling wildlife is only now becoming clear. Only time will tell the best way for artificial light and wildlife to exist in harmony.
Sources: (BBC)
Megan Eaves, who is a delegate for the IDA, has argued that our reluctance to embrace darkness stems from its association with evil. That could be a real stumbling block on the path to change.
When we hear the word "pollution," our minds often go straight to smoke chugging out of power stations or cities gray with smog. We normally think and use the word in the context of air or water. But a lesser-known term is "light pollution," and it refers to the artificial light humans use to flood the Earth. Of course, non-natural lighting has its uses, but recent research shows it also has a harmful effect on plants and animals.
Intrigued? Then click through this gallery to learn all about light pollution and its effect on wildlife.
Light pollution and its harmful effect on wildlife
Learn about this lesser-known type of pollution
LIFESTYLE Nature
When we hear the word "pollution," our minds often go straight to smoke chugging out of power stations or cities gray with smog. We normally think and use the word in the context of air or water. But a lesser-known term is "light pollution," and it refers to the artificial light humans use to flood the Earth. Of course, non-natural lighting has its uses, but recent research shows it also has a harmful effect on plants and animals.
Intrigued? Then click through this gallery to learn all about light pollution and its effect on wildlife.