The effect of cave illumination on bats

Straka, Tanja M.; Greif, Stefan; Schultz, Sabina; Goerlitz, Holger R.; Voigt, Christian C.

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00808

Cited by 24 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…This might explain why bat roadkills show a negative correlation between the cave roosting behavior and night light. Cave specialists, e.g., Rhinolophus bats, are known to be sensitive to light conditions near roost entrances [79]. Coelops frithii and Myotis formosus, the two most vulnerable species in our study, are known to roost in caves and show light-avoidance behaviors near the roost entrance and during foraging [80,81].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape and Species Traits Co-Drive Roadkills of Bats in a Subtropical Island

2021

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The expansion of roads has threatened wildlife populations by driving casualties due to vehicle collisions. However, the ecological drivers of wildlife roadkills are not yet fully explored. We investigated the strength of landscape features and ecomorphological traits in determining spatial patterns of bat roadkills in Taiwan. In total, 661 roadkills that belonged to 20 bat species were acquired by citizen scientists between 2011 and 2019. The number and species richness of victim bats declined with increasing elevations with varying species compositions. Elevation and artificial light had significantly negative effects on the occurrence of roadkill, whereas protected area and its interaction with elevation had positive effects. Ordination analyses showed that roadkills were driven by different ecomorphological traits and landscape features. At low elevations, road casualties were associated with an aerial hawking hunting strategy. At higher elevations, roadkills were associated with higher elevational distribution. Roadkills of non-cave bats were associated with brighter environments, suggesting that bats might be exposed to higher risk when hunting insects near artificial light. Our findings suggest that management agencies shall consider both species traits and landscape features when planning impact assessments and mitigation practices of roadkills for bats and probably other wildlife, particularly when long environmental gradients are covered.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape and Species Traits Co-Drive Roadkills of Bats in a Subtropical Island

2021

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“…Other studies also identified reduction of bat activities, especially in areas illuminated by high-intensity LED lights (Kerbiriou et al 2020 ). Straka et al ( 2020 ) found that common neutral-white or amber LEDs reduced the activities of all wild cave-roosting species, including Rhinolophus mehelyi , Rhinolophus euryale , Myotis capaccinii , and Miniopterus schreibersii . Among those, the Rhinolophus bats reacted most strongly and refused to fly at all under any artificial lighting treatment in the flight room.…”

Section: Artificial Lightingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Have artificial lighting and noise pollution caused zoonosis and the COVID-19 pandemic? A review

Shao

Han

2021

Environ Chem Lett

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Where did the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) come from? Did it spread to ‘patient zero’ through proactive human-animal contact? Why did humans faced an increasing number of zoonotic diseases in the past few decades? In this article, we propose a new theory by which human pollution such as artificial lighting and noise accentuate pathogen shedding from bats and other wild habitants in urban environments. This theory differs from the current hypothesis that wildlife trades and bushmeat consumption largely contribute to the spillover of zoonotic pathogens to humans. As natural reservoirs, bats harbor the greatest number of zoonotic viruses among all mammalian orders, while they also have a unique immune system to maintain functioning. Some bat species roost in proximity with human settlements, including urban communities and surrounding areas that are potentially most impacted by anthropogenic activities. We review the behavioral changes of wild habitants, including bats and other species, caused by environmental pollution such as artificial lighting and noise pollution, with focus on the spillover of zoonotic pathogens to humans. We found that there is a strong positive correlation between environmental stress and the behavior and health conditions of wild species, including bats. Specifically, artificial lighting attracts insectivorous bats to congregate around streetlights, resulting in changes in their diets and improved likelihood of close contact with humans and animals. Moreover, many bat species avoid lit areas by expending more energies on commuting and foraging. Noise pollution has similar effects on bat behavior. Bats exposed to chronic noise pollution have weakened immune functions, increased viral shedding, and declined immunity during pregnancy, lactation, and vulnerable periods due to noised-induced stress. Other wild species exposed to artificial lighting and noise pollution also show stress-induced behaviors and deteriorated health. Overall, evidence supports our hypothesis that artificial lighting and noise pollution have been overlooked as long-term contributors to the spillover of zoonotic pathogens to humans in urban environments.

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“…Multiple cross-sectional studies have proved that there is no substitute for natural darkness, and any change in the lighting might have severe implications as observed in several animals (9,204,205). On the basis of the research, we want to put forward some strategies to minimize the effect of ALAN on virus outbreak from the bats, like HCoVs.…”

Section: The Future Strategies To Mitigate the Repercussions Of Artifmentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial Light at Night (ALAN): A Potential Anthropogenic Component for the COVID-19 and HCoVs Outbreak

et al. 2020

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The origin of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is zoonotic. The circadian day-night is the rhythmic clue to organisms for their synchronized body functions. The "development for mankind" escalated the use of artificial light at night (ALAN). In this article, we tried to focus on the possible influence of this anthropogenic factor in human coronavirus (HCoV) outbreak. The relationship between the occurrences of coronavirus and the ascending curve of the night-light has also been delivered. The ALAN influences the physiology and behavior of bat, a known nocturnal natural reservoir of many Coronaviridae. The "threatened" and "endangered" status of the majority of bat species is mainly because of the destruction of their proper habit and habitat predominantly through artificial illumination. The stress exerted by ALAN leads to the impaired body functions, especially endocrine, immune, genomic integration, and overall rhythm features of different physiological variables and behaviors in nocturnal animals. Night-light disturbs "virus-host" synchronization and may lead to mutation in the genomic part of the virus and excessive virus shedding. We also proposed some future strategies to mitigate the repercussions of ALAN and for the protection of the living system in the earth as well.

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The effect of cave illumination on bats

Cited by 24 publications

References 38 publications

Landscape and Species Traits Co-Drive Roadkills of Bats in a Subtropical Island

Landscape and Species Traits Co-Drive Roadkills of Bats in a Subtropical Island

Have artificial lighting and noise pollution caused zoonosis and the COVID-19 pandemic? A review

Artificial Light at Night (ALAN): A Potential Anthropogenic Component for the COVID-19 and HCoVs Outbreak

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