Light pollution and seabird fledglings: Targeting efforts in rescue programs

Rodríguez, Airam; Moffett, Jonathan; Revoltós, Anna; Wasiak, P.; McIntosh, Rebecca R.; Sutherland, Duncan R.; Renwick, Leanne; Dann, Peter; Chiaradia, André

doi:10.1002/jwmg.21237

Cited by 28 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Diagnostic plots indicated that model assumptions were not violated (see Figure S2). Finally, we extracted the standardized residuals of this model and used them as a body condition index (BCI), where positive and negative values indicate that birds are heavier and lighter than the average in the population, respectively (Green, 2001;Rodríguez et al, 2012aRodríguez et al, , 2017b.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Reducing light-induced mortality of seabirds: High pressure sodium lights decrease the fatal attraction of shearwaters

Rodríguez

Dann

Chiaradia

2017

Journal for Nature Conservation

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The use of artificial light at night and its ecological consequences are increasing around the world. Light pollution can lead to massive mortality episodes for nocturnally active petrels, one of the most threatened avian groups. Some fledglings can be attracted or disoriented by artificial light on their first flights. Studies testing the effect of artificial light characteristics on attractiveness to seabirds have not provided conclusive results and there is some urgency as some endangered petrel species experience high lightinduced mortality. We designed a field experiment to test the effect of three common outdoor lighting systems with different light spectra (high pressure sodium, metal halide and light emitting diode) on the number and the body condition of grounded fledglings of the short-tailed shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris. A total of 235 birds were grounded during 99 experimental hours (33 hours for each treatment). 47% of birds were grounded when metal halide lights were on, while light emitting diode and high pressure sodium lights showed lower percentages of attraction (29% and 24%). Metal halide multiplied the mortality risk by a factor of 1.6 and 1.9 respectively in comparison with light emitting diode and high pressure sodium lights. No differences in body condition were detected among the birds grounded by the different lighting systems. We recommend the adoption of high pressure sodium lights into petrel-friendly lighting designs together with other light mitigation measures such as light attenuation, lateral shielding to reduce spill and appropriate orientation.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although short-tailed shearwater fledglings attracted by artificial lights do not seem handicapped, as their body condition is similar to those of adults (Rodríguez et al, 2017b), degree of attraction to lighting systems could be mediated by body condition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing light-induced mortality of seabirds: High pressure sodium lights decrease the fatal attraction of shearwaters

Rodríguez

Dann

Chiaradia

2017

Journal for Nature Conservation

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…). Finally, time from rescue to release may be critical (Rodríguez et al , , ), especially if veterinary care, liquids, or food are not provided. Thus, materials used in the boxes, body‐mass thresholds, and release times should be based on scientific evidence.…”

Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…For some species, food and liquids are provided if individuals are under a predetermined body‐mass threshold (Rodríguez et al. ). Finally, time from rescue to release may be critical (Rodríguez et al , , ), especially if veterinary care, liquids, or food are not provided.…”

Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seabird mortality induced by land‐based artificial lights

Rodríguez

Holmes²,

Ryan

et al. 2017

Conservation Biology

Self Cite

126

153

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Artificial lights at night cause high mortality of seabirds, one of the most endangered groups of birds globally. Fledglings of burrow-nesting seabirds, and to a lesser extent adults, are attracted to and then grounded (i.e., forced to land) by lights when they fly at night. We reviewed the current state of knowledge of seabird attraction to light to identify information gaps and propose measures to address the problem. Although species in families such as Alcidae and Anatidae can be grounded by artificial light, the most affected seabirds are petrels and shearwaters (Procellariiformes). At least 56 species of Procellariiformes, more than one-third of them (24) threatened, are subject to grounding by lights. Seabirds grounded by lights have been found worldwide, mainly on oceanic islands but also at some continental locations. Petrel breeding grounds confined to formerly uninhabited islands are particularly at risk from light pollution due to tourism and urban sprawl. Where it is impractical to ban external lights, rescue programs of grounded birds offer the most immediate and employed mitigation to reduce the rate of light-induced mortality and save thousands of birds every year. These programs also provide useful information for seabird management. However, these data are typically fragmentary, biased, and uncertain and can lead to inaccurate impact estimates and poor understanding of the phenomenon of seabird attraction to lights. We believe the most urgently needed actions to mitigate and understand light-induced mortality of seabirds are estimation of mortality and effects on populations; determination of threshold light levels and safe distances from light sources; documentation of the fate of rescued birds; improvement of rescue campaigns, particularly in terms of increasing recovery rates and level of care; and research on seabird-friendly lights to reduce attraction.

show abstract

“…Artificial lights can confuse them, resulting in injury or mortality via collision with structures or the ground, or becoming "grounded." Grounded birds are unlikely to be able to regain flight, and unless rescued, typically die from dehydration or starvation, or are killed by cats and dogs or run over by cars (Podolskyi et al, 1998;Rodríguez et al, 2012bRodríguez et al, , 2017cDeppe et al, 2017). Impacts are particularly evident on islands with human communities, with fledglings affected during maiden flights to sea, especially during darker moon phases (Telfer et al, 1987;Le Corre et al, 2002;Rodríguez and Rodríguez, 2009;Fontaine et al, 2011;Rodríguez et al, 2014Rodríguez et al, , 2015a.…”

Section: Light Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Future Directions in Conservation Research on Petrels and Shearwaters

Arcos²,

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Shearwaters and petrels (hereafter petrels) are highly adapted seabirds that occur across all the world's oceans. Petrels are a threatened seabird group comprising 124 species. They have bet-hedging life histories typified by extended chick rearing periods, low fecundity, high adult survival, strong philopatry, monogamy and long-term mate fidelity and are thus vulnerable to change. Anthropogenic alterations on land and at sea have led to a poor conservation status of many petrels with 52 (42%) threatened

show abstract

Light pollution and seabird fledglings: Targeting efforts in rescue programs

Cited by 28 publications

References 27 publications

Reducing light-induced mortality of seabirds: High pressure sodium lights decrease the fatal attraction of shearwaters

Reducing light-induced mortality of seabirds: High pressure sodium lights decrease the fatal attraction of shearwaters

Seabird mortality induced by land‐based artificial lights

Future Directions in Conservation Research on Petrels and Shearwaters

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About