New studies have revealed the effects of excessive artificial light on flora and fauna. In Chile, 17 species of seabirds are affected by light pollution, of which seven are endangered species. One of the most affected is the black storm petrel, with a mortality of at least 20,000 individuals per year.
A recent study by Washington State University published in the journal Forbes, indicated that the lights of large cities are causing an evolutionary adaptation in some bird species. Specifically, the study revealed that the eyes of two bird species residing in the San Antonio, Texas area are 5% smaller than the eyes of those of the same species living in areas with less artificial lighting.
Recently, both in Chile and abroad, researchers are publishing more and more scientific evidence on the impact of light pollution on the flora and fauna of our ecosystems. “Light pollution is a problem that affects a wide range of biodiversity. In many cases, we are just beginning to understand its effects not only on birds but also on amphibians, crustaceans, insects, among others,” explains Ivo Tejeda, Executive Director of the Network of Bird and Wildlife Observers of Chile (ROC).
The executive director of Fundación Cielos de Chile, Daniela González, explains that one of the main effects of light pollution is related to the biological cycles of species. “The cycles of animals are often determined by the darkness of the night, and migratory routes are defined by the stars. When birds or other species fail to reach their migration sites, reproductive cycles are affected, and that impacts biodiversity conservation,” highlights Daniela González, executive director of Fundación Cielos de Chile.
In the south of the world, black storm petrels, shearwaters, and petrels affected by light pollution
In 2020, a scientific investigation was published in Chile that confirms how light pollution affects seabirds on the Chilean coast. Specifically, young shearwaters and petrels (which breed in cavities) are attracted to artificial light sources, fly towards these points of light, and fall.
In Chile, 17 species of seabirds are affected by light pollution, of which seven are endangered species. One of the most affected species is the black storm petrel. According to estimates made in 2019, between 2017 and 2018, the mortality of this species reached at least 20,000 individuals per year. The research also identified the main fall points of this species, among which the Chacalluta border complex and the Carlos Dittborn stadium in Arica stand out, where hundreds of fallen storm petrels are recorded.
“With more than 4,000 kilometers of coastline and many seabirds that depend on the Humboldt current, Chile is a very important country for seabirds. For some of these species, light pollution is a very relevant problem and constitutes, in some cases, their most important threat,” explains Ivo Tejeda of ROC.
For 15 years, the Oikonos Foundation has been working on bird conservation on the Juan Fernández Islands and Isla Mocha. In both places, researchers noticed a pattern: every year between April and May, there were shearwaters on the ground.
With that information in mind, Oikonos, together with the Municipality of Juan Fernandez, began to initiate a lighting change. “Fifteen years ago, there was not much scientific evidence about the effect of blue light, so we looked for experiences in other parts of the world and decided to replicate a lighting change study that was done in the Canary Islands and Hawaii. We installed lights with a green filter. By the fourth year of changing the lights, it was proven that the fall of shearwaters had significantly reduced,” explains Valentina Colodro, Program Manager of Chile and Co-President of the Oikonos Foundation
Meanwhile, the lights were well received within the Juan Fernandez island community. “We thought we would have some complaints. But it was the opposite. The community itself approached us and thanked us because finally, there were no dead or fallen shearwaters in their yards.”
Progress in the protection of birds and dark skies: New Lighting Standard
In October of this year, the Ministry of the Environment published in the Official Gazette the New Lighting Standard, which seeks to protect the country’s biodiversity from the effects of excessive artificial light. “The New Lighting Standard establishes specific restrictions for what have been defined as special protection areas. One of them corresponds to the Areas of Scientific Interest for Astronomy, in addition to the Areas of Protection for Biodiversity and the reproduction zones of species, where artificial luminosity is identified as a threat, and which are delimited in a Plan for the Recovery, Conservation, and Management of Species,” highlights Daniela González, executive director of Fundación Cielos de Chile.
Ivo Tejeda details that these areas belonging to the recovery and conservation plan will have stricter regulations for the use of artificial light. “In the coming years, some municipalities and sectors where the stricter provisions will be implemented should be defined,” explains the Executive Director of the Network of Bird and Wildlife Observers of Chile (ROC).
Experts agree that for the success of the New Lighting Standard, it will be essential to have tools that facilitate its implementation. ROC, together with Oikonos and the Northern Chile Sky Quality Protection Office (OPCC), developed a Friendly Lighting Guide for Seabirds aimed at project development. Meanwhile, Fundación Cielos de Chile is preparing the launch of Glowatch, a citizen science tool developed in conjunction with the Light Research Center (Ciluz) and the Center of Excellence in Astrophysics and Associated Technologies (CATA) that seeks to educate on good lighting practices.
