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Ecological Impact of Artificial Light at Night: Effective Strategies and Measures to Deal with Protected Species and Habitats

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  • Annika K. Jägerbrand

    (Calluna AB, Hästholmsvägen 28, SE-131 30 Nacka, Sweden
    Department of Environmental and Biosciences, Rydberg Laboratory of Applied Science (RLAS), School of Business, Engineering and Science, Halmstad University, P.O. Box 823, SE-301 18 Halmstad, Sweden)

  • Constantinos A. Bouroussis

    (Lighting Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zografou, Greece)

Abstract

When conserving or protecting rare or endangered species, current general guidelines for reducing light pollution might not suffice to ensure long-term threatened species’ survival. Many protected areas are exposed to artificial light at levels with the potential to induce ecological impacts with unknown implications for the ecosystems they are designated to protect. Consequently, it is recommended that precautionary methods for the avoidance and mitigation of light pollution in protected areas be integrated into their management plans. This paper’s aims are to present an overview of best practices in precautionary methods to avoid and mitigate light pollution in protected areas and to identify and discuss what ecosystems should be considered light-sensitive and how to prioritise species and habitats that need protection from artificial light, including examples of legislation covering ecological light pollution in the European Union and in Sweden. The important aspects to include when considering light pollution at a landscape level are listed, and a proposal for prioritisation among species and habitats is suggested. Sensitive and conservation areas and important habitats for particularly vulnerable species could be prioritised for measures to minimise artificial lighting’s negative effects on biodiversity. This may be done by classifying protected natural environments into different zones and applying more constrained principles to limit lighting. The light pollution sensitivity of various environments and ecosystems suggests that different mitigation strategies and adaptations should be used depending on landscape characteristics, species sensitivity and other factors that may determine whether artificial light may be detrimental. Issues of the currently used measurement methods for artificial light at night are reviewed. We also propose and discuss the principles and benefits of using standardized measurement methods and appropriate instrumentation for field measurements of artificial light concerning the environmental impact of light pollution.

Suggested Citation

  • Annika K. Jägerbrand & Constantinos A. Bouroussis, 2021. "Ecological Impact of Artificial Light at Night: Effective Strategies and Measures to Deal with Protected Species and Habitats," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-24, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:5991-:d:562495
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maja Grubisic & Abraham Haim & Pramod Bhusal & Davide M. Dominoni & Katharina M. A. Gabriel & Andreas Jechow & Franziska Kupprat & Amit Lerner & Paul Marchant & William Riley & Katarina Stebelova & Ro, 2019. "Light Pollution, Circadian Photoreception, and Melatonin in Vertebrates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-51, November.
    2. Sibylle Schroer & Benedikt John Huggins & Clementine Azam & Franz Hölker, 2020. "Working with Inadequate Tools: Legislative Shortcomings in Protection against Ecological Effects of Artificial Light at Night," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-38, March.
    3. Eva Knop & Leana Zoller & Remo Ryser & Christopher Gerpe & Maurin Hörler & Colin Fontaine, 2017. "Artificial light at night as a new threat to pollination," Nature, Nature, vol. 548(7666), pages 206-209, August.
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    2. Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska & Katarzyna Szlachetko & Katarzyna Bobkowska, 2021. "An Impact Analysis of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) on Bats. A Case Study of the Historic Monument and Natura 2000 Wisłoujście Fortress in Gdansk, Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-48, October.
    3. Barbara, Christian Enrico & D Adamo, Idiano & Gastaldi, Massimo & Nizami, Abdul Sattar, 2024. "Clean energy for a sustainable future: Analysis of a PV system and LED bulbs in a hotel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    4. Katarzyna Bobkowska & Pawel Burdziakowski & Jakub Szulwic & Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska, 2021. "Seven Different Lighting Conditions in Photogrammetric Studies of a 3D Urban Mock-Up," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-27, November.
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    7. Ulrika Wänström Lindh & Annika K. Jägerbrand, 2021. "Perceived Lighting Uniformity on Pedestrian Roads: From an Architectural Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-20, June.

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