The study found that the light pollution of street lamps is related to the decline of insect populations
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Update time : 2021-08-30 15:09:17
The study found that the light pollution of street lamps is related to the decline of insect populations
More and more evidence shows that due to climate change, habitat loss and pesticides, insect populations are shrinking. The factors are complex and diverse, including the constant loss of forests, wastelands, grasslands and marshes, overuse of pesticides, climate change, and pollution of rivers and lakes. The use of artificial lighting at night is considered to be another driving factor for the decline of insects, but the extent of its impact is still unclear.
In a study in the United Kingdom, it was found that artificial street lights disrupted the behavior of moths at night and reduced the number of caterpillars by half. Among them, modern LED street lights seem to have the greatest impact. This research, published in "Science Progress", is the strongest evidence so far that light pollution can adversely affect local insect populations and affect birds and other wild animals that rely on caterpillars for food.
Researchers believe that street lamps may prevent moths from laying eggs at night, or put insects at risk of being found and eaten by predators such as bats. Conversely, caterpillars born under street luminaries, especially caterpillars born under LED street fixtures, will change their eating habits. The researchers said that there are some practical solutions that will not harm public safety, including dimming street LED lights in the wee hours, installing motion sensors or using color filters to cut off the most harmful light bands, and so on.
In this study, experts from charities, butterfly conservation organizations, Newcastle University and the British Centre for Ecology and Hydrology investigated caterpillars in grasslands and bushes on both sides of roads in southern England. The researchers surveyed 26 locations with street lights in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire. Each location was compared with similar sections of roads without lights nearby. The survey showed that in illuminated areas, caterpillars were reduced by about half (47% in hedges; 33% in grass). In the second experiment, a lighting device was set up in the field. They found that the number of caterpillars under the LED light was reduced, which indicated an impact on the caterpillar's feeding behavior.
A scientific review of insect populations in 2019 pointed out that 40% of the world’s species are experiencing a sharp decline. According to the study, bees, ants and beetles disappear 8 times faster than mammals, birds or reptiles, while other species, such as house flies and cockroaches, may flourish. The disappearance of insects has had a profound impact on the entire ecosystem. Insects provide food for many birds, amphibians, bats and reptiles, while plants rely on insects for pollination.
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