tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537965748256551796.post5537112404228631618..comments2023-09-24T10:19:01.383+01:00Comments on John's Green Issues: Light pollution and wildlifeJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197399895034972279noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537965748256551796.post-25192568176695666702008-01-07T11:27:00.000+00:002008-01-07T11:27:00.000+00:00Light pollution is extremely damaging to the envir...Light pollution is extremely damaging to the environment, as I pointed out in my letter to the BAA journal in 1994. Lights left on all night attract insects, and I saw plenty of evidence for this when I lived in Africa in the 1980's and early 1990's. They would spiral around the lights and if not killed outright by the high temperatures would fall to the ground too tired either to breed or to procreate. Consequently over long periods of time the lights will sweep up insects over wide areas. This is going to have concomitant effects on higher order consumers such as spiders, birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians.<br> <br>Some lighting is worse than others. Halogen, mercury and high pressure sodium (SON) are very damaging, while low pressure sodium (SOX)is less so. However all types are culpable. <br><br>Insects are also very important as pollinators, so if their numbers decline, so does the number of successful pollinations. Consequently plant diversity is also affected, further enhancing insect decline in an ever increasing positive feedback cycle. Plant flowering cycles can also be affected as the plants are tricked into behaving as if it were summer, with extended daylight. Abscission can also be affected. <br><br>Wildlife groups have commented extensively on the decline of many common species of animals and plants over the past forty or fifty years. What is not generally realised is that this mirrors the expansion of street, security, commercial, sports, and decorative lighting over the same period. <br><br>Unfortunately people are now addicted to light, and this is encouraged by the lighting industry in order to maximise profits. What is now needed is a culture change in our attitudes towards nocturnal lighting. We have already seen this with a view to littering, dog-fouling, drink-driving, seat-belts and smoking in public places. Lighting should only be used when and where necessary, and switched off when not in use. Consequently it should be applied sparingly, when needed, where needed, and in the correct amounts. Better lighting design will help, along with an 11.00p.m. curfew on minor roads in suburban areas in which the lighting is not switched on again until the following night. This will help the environment to recover from the worst effects. Lighting in rural areas is not appropriate, and should not be applied unless absolutely necessary. Those involved in road safety should seek alternative methods that are available without naive recourse to street lighting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537965748256551796.post-56871423955644608182008-01-08T09:05:00.000+00:002008-01-08T09:05:00.000+00:00It's a long time since I wrote the original blog, ...It's a long time since I wrote the original blog, and everything I have seen since confirms what Colin Henshaw is pointing out. I.e. the situation is much worse than I described. When I fly intercontinentally, it is reall depressing to realise that it is almost impossible to not see electric lights at some point between the night-time horizons.<br><br>Like Cilin I recall the huge numbers of insects attracted to lights in Africa, and also when I first visited Greece in 1963, I remember vividly watching Green Toads (Bufo viridis) sitting beneath (th then rare and occasional) stree light, gobbling up insects.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6537965748256551796.post-36161636575721492342008-01-12T14:09:00.000+00:002008-01-12T14:09:00.000+00:00I have found this "missive".It makes interesting r...I have found this "missive".<br>It makes interesting reading -<br>http://www.lightpollution.org.uk/dwnLoads/24HourDay_v3.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com