The effects of light pollution on migratory animal behavior

Burt, Carolyn S.; Kelly, Jeffrey F.; Trankina, Grace E.; Silva, Carol L.; Khalighifar, Ali; Jenkins‐Smith, Hank C.; Fox, Andrew S.; Fristrup, Kurt M.; Horton, Kyle G.

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2022.12.006

Cited by 44 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 105 publications

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“…As a result, our findings highlight the importance of conservation efforts, particularly during the key times of peak migration we have identified, to protect both this critical region and the migratory birds that use it. Examples of this potential conservation action include mitigating the effects of light pollution through programs such as Lights Out (Van Doren et al 2021, Burt et al 2023) and the temporary pausing of wind turbines (Hüppop et al 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inbound arrivals: using weather surveillance radar to quantify the diurnal timing of spring trans‐Gulf bird migration

Abbott,

Deng,

Badwey

et al. 2023

Ecography

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More than two billion birds migrate through the Gulf of Mexico each spring en route to breeding grounds in the USA and Canada. This region has a long history of complex natural and anthropogenic environments as the northern Gulf coast provides the first possible stopover habitats for migrants making nonstop trans‐Gulf crossings during spring migration. However, intense anthropogenic activity in the region, which is expanding rapidly at present, makes migrants vulnerable to a multitude of obstacles and increasingly fragments and alters these habitats. Understanding the timing of migrants' overwater arrivals has biological value for expanding our understanding of migration ecology relative to decision‐making for nonstop flights, and is imperative for advancing conservation of this critical region through the identification of key times in which to direct conservation actions (e.g. temporary halting of wind turbines, reduction of light pollution). We explored 10 years of weather surveillance radar data from five sites along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast to quantify the daily timing and intensity of arriving trans‐Gulf migrants. On a daily scale, we found that migrant intensity peaked an average of nine hours after local sunrise, occurring earliest at easternmost sites. On a seasonal level, the greatest number of arrivals occurred between late April and early May, with peak intensity occurring latest at westernmost sites. Overall intensity of migration across all 10 years of data was greatest at the westernmost sites and decreased moving farther to the east. These findings emphasize the differential spatial and temporal patterns of use of the Gulf of Mexico region by migrating birds, information that is essential for improving our understanding of the ecology of trans‐Gulf migration and for supporting data‐driven approaches to conservation actions for the migratory birds passing through this critical region.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inbound arrivals: using weather surveillance radar to quantify the diurnal timing of spring trans‐Gulf bird migration

Abbott,

Deng,

Badwey

et al. 2023

Ecography

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“…Consistently, studies show that ALAN disrupts animal movement and orientation patterns (Svechkina et al, 2020), of which the acute and dramatic impact on nocturnally migrating birds is particularly well documented (Burt et al, 2023;Van Doren et al, 2021;Van Doren et al, 2017). Annually, nearly a billion birds die in collisions with buildings, many of these are migrant birds flying at night that are attracted to buildings by ALAN.…”

Section: Introduction: Alan As a Societal Problemmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…It was noted that there are straightforward solutions that could be immediately implemented to erase or reduce the negative impacts of light pollution. They include but are not limited to the following: reducing the amount of non‐necessary indoor and outdoor lighting, using down shielding on lights when possible, having timers and motion sensors on lighting, and using wildlife‐friendly lighting colors if intensity cannot be reduced (e.g., warmer colored lights closer to 1000 Kelvin than cooler colored lights closer to 10,000 Kelvin (Burt et al, 2023)). However, knowledge and awareness are clear barriers preventing these solutions from being implemented, leading to more complex nuances such as incentives for reduced light pollution, effective legislation, and broadscale participation in lights‐out campaigns with greater appreciation for both darkness and birds.…”

Section: Getting To Know the Problem From Stakeholders' Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Paradoxically, as lighting becomes more efficient (e.g., the emergence of light-emitting diodes, LEDs), so does the severity and scope of ALAN's negative impacts (Schulte-Römer et al, 2019) documented in a growing number of research studies on ALAN and light pollution in recent years (Burt et al, 2023). Citizen science data have revealed that globally, sky glow from artificial light has increased at a rate higher than was previously known through satellite data, showing that the brightness of the sky has increased at up to 10% per year (Kyba et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introduction: Alan As a Societal Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can ecological forecasting lead to convergence on sustainable lighting policies?

Burt

Kelly

Fox

et al. 2023

Conservat Sci and Prac

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The overuse and expansion of artificial light at night (ALAN) has emerged from complex social, economic, and political factors, making it a societal problem that negatively impacts wildlife and people. We propose that a convergence research approach combining ecological forecasting with community engagement and public policy is needed to address this diverse societal problem. To begin this convergence research approach, we hosted a workshop to strengthen connections among key biodiversity‐oriented ALAN stakeholders and to better understand how stakeholder groups function across the United States through facilitated discussions. We have prioritized the input of stakeholders early in our research design by including them in the formulation of a national survey on public perceptions surrounding ALAN and received their input on existing ecological forecasting tools to improve those research products for their future use.

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“…Migrating birds are expected to follow routes that minimize overall time, energy, or predation risk over the course of the journey (Alerstam and Lindström 1990, Alerstam 2001). Anthropogenic changes to the physical and sensory environment may cause migrating birds to alter or adjust their route, move to alternative stopover sites, or change their stopover frequency (McClure et al 2013, Xu et al 2020, Burt et al 2023). Threat-related changes to the route presumably lengthen the duration of migration (i.e., timing) and can affect condition via increased energy expenditure or opportunity costs of using lower-quality stopover or airspace habitat, potentially leading to costly delays (Alerstam 2001, Overton et al 2022).…”

Section: Anthropogenicthreat Pathways Leadingto Fitness Costsmentioning

confidence: 99%

More than mortality: Consequences of human activity on migrating birds extend beyond direct mortality

Nemes

Cabrera‐Cruz

Anderson

et al. 2023

Ornithological Applications

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Birds must contend with an array of anthropogenic threats during their migratory journeys. Many migrants are killed due to encounters with artificial light, introduced species, pollutants, and other anthropogenic hazards, while survivors of these encounters can suffer longer-lasting negative effects. The nonlethal effects of anthropogenic threats on migrating birds are less well understood than direct mortality, yet both potentially contribute to population declines. For example, building collisions frequently kill migrating birds, but the numbers of migrants that survive with an impaired ability to fly, refuel, or navigate to their destination on time is not well understood. Though not immediately fatal, such injuries can lead to delayed mortality and, ultimately, reduced lifetime reproductive success. Furthermore, migrants are likely to encounter multiple threats on their journeys, which can interact synergistically to further reduce fitness. For instance, light pollution attracts and disorients migrants, increasing the likelihood of window strikes, and surviving birds may be more vulnerable to predation from introduced predators. While considerable attention has focused on the lethal effects of anthropogenic threats, here, we review nonlethal effects of 8 types of threats during migration, their interactions, and the pathways through which they can exert fitness costs. In doing so, we identify knowledge gaps and suggest areas for future research. In the absence of more information, we propose that the greatest reduction in the cumulative lethal and nonlethal impacts of anthropogenic hazards will be achieved by addressing threat types, like artificial light at night, that interact with and compound the impact of additional threats. Direct mortality from anthropogenic sources is recognized as a key driver of population declines, but a full understanding of the impacts of human activity on migrating birds must include the cumulative and interacting effects that extend beyond immediate mortality en route to influence overall migration success and lifetime fitness.

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The effects of light pollution on migratory animal behavior

Cited by 44 publications

References 105 publications

Inbound arrivals: using weather surveillance radar to quantify the diurnal timing of spring trans‐Gulf bird migration

Inbound arrivals: using weather surveillance radar to quantify the diurnal timing of spring trans‐Gulf bird migration

Can ecological forecasting lead to convergence on sustainable lighting policies?

More than mortality: Consequences of human activity on migrating birds extend beyond direct mortality

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