Content uploaded by William A Montevecchi
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by William A Montevecchi
Content may be subject to copyright.
Influences of artificial light on marine birds
Abstract
Lighthouses, offshore and nearshore squid and other fisheries that use intense lighting to attract prey at night, and offshore oil and gas platforms and their brilliant gas flares are imposing new anthropogenic light sources in heretofore dark nocturnal ocean environments. These developments attract, concentrate, and kill seabirds and other marine animals. The mortality of seabirds associated with these artificial sources is not monitored or
studied effectively. To minimize these forms of mortality, it is essential to study their seasonal variation and species vulnerabilities. Some causes of this mortality are indirect (e.g., energy depletion from prolonged circling of light sources, increasing predation on nocturnal species by diurnal gulls hunting at night in illuminated areas), and some are embedded in cumulative effects (e.g., offshore platforms create artificial reefs that attract crustaceans and fishes that in turn attract avian predators). Endangered, threatened, and rare species are at especially high risk for negative population effects. Burrow-nesting fledglings, especially petrels and shearwaters, making their initial flights to sea from nesting areas are the most critically affected group. Occurrences of light-associated mortality are episodic, so documentation of this mortality requires legislatively mandated dedicated independent observers on hydrocarbon platforms and light-enhanced nocturnal fishery vessels.
... The attraction of sensitive species to OWFs is a behavioral concern mainly linked to the presence of artificial lighting on the infrastructure. Bird attraction to artificial light, a well-documented phenomenon, poses particular risks to OWFs [107,113,119,81,92]. OWFs are mandated to incorporate lighting for safety, both on turbines and structures during installation and maintenance [61]. ...
... It is noteworthy that traditional collision risk models, assuming straight flight paths, may not fully account for circling behavior near light sources [27]. While various factors like weather conditions [48,68,92], nocturnal species vulnerability [89], and moon phase Montevecchi [92]; Miles et al. [89] can influence this attraction to OWF artificial light, literature consistently indicates increased collision risk for birds due to artificial light [64]. Bats are known to be attracted to coastal lighting sources, such as lighthouses [106], due to increased insect prey presence [3]. ...
... It is noteworthy that traditional collision risk models, assuming straight flight paths, may not fully account for circling behavior near light sources [27]. While various factors like weather conditions [48,68,92], nocturnal species vulnerability [89], and moon phase Montevecchi [92]; Miles et al. [89] can influence this attraction to OWF artificial light, literature consistently indicates increased collision risk for birds due to artificial light [64]. Bats are known to be attracted to coastal lighting sources, such as lighthouses [106], due to increased insect prey presence [3]. ...
... Species that may be particularly vulnerable to lighting-related effects include nocturnally active seabirds (Montevecchi, 2006) and nocturnal avian migrants (Hüppop et al., 2006;Van Doren et al., 2017). Other factors, including weather conditions, cloud cover, and moon phase (Montevecchi, 2006;Kerlinger et al., 2010;Ronconi et al., 2015), as well as characteristics of the light (e.g., color, intensity, duration; Evans, 2007;Poot et al., 2008;Gehring et al., 2009;Cook et al., 2011), influence vulnerability to lightingrelated effects. ...
... Species that may be particularly vulnerable to lighting-related effects include nocturnally active seabirds (Montevecchi, 2006) and nocturnal avian migrants (Hüppop et al., 2006;Van Doren et al., 2017). Other factors, including weather conditions, cloud cover, and moon phase (Montevecchi, 2006;Kerlinger et al., 2010;Ronconi et al., 2015), as well as characteristics of the light (e.g., color, intensity, duration; Evans, 2007;Poot et al., 2008;Gehring et al., 2009;Cook et al., 2011), influence vulnerability to lightingrelated effects. ...
Offshore wind energy development (OWED), while a key strategy for reducing carbon emissions, has potential negative effects to wildlife that should be examined to inform decision making and adaptive management as the industry expands. We present a conceptual framework to guide the long-term study of potential effects to birds and bats from OWED. This framework includes a focus on exposure and vulnerability as key determinants of risk. For birds and bats that are exposed to OWED, there are three main effects of interest that may impact survival and productivity: 1) collision mortality, 2) behavioral responses, including avoidance, displacement, and attraction, and 3) habitat-mediated effects to prey populations. If these OWED effects cause changes in survival and/or breeding success (e.g., fitness), they have the potential for population-level consequences, including changes in population size and structure. Understanding the influence of ecological drivers on exposure and effect parameters can help to disentangle the potential impacts of OWED from other stressors. We use this theoretical framework to summarize existing relevant knowledge and identify current priority research questions (n=22) for the eastern United States, where large-scale development of OWED is primarily in the planning and early construction phase. We also identify recommendations for study design and further prioritization of research topics.
... Petrels mainly commute between the sea and their breeding colonies at night, which makes them particularly vulnerable to light pollution. Both fledgling and adult petrels may be attracted to lights because in their natural environment light signals prey (Imber 1975), or simply because of an innate attraction to light at night (Telfer et al. 1987;Montevecchi 2006). Fledglings are particularly impacted by light pollution, presumably because they are inexperienced and are more easily to be disoriented by artificial lights compared to adults (Atchoi et al. 2020). ...
ABSTRACT - This study aims to identify the petrel species affected by artificial light pollution in New Caledonia, describe the spatial and temporal patterns of light-induced groundings, and infer the factors involved. The study took place across Grande Terre (New Caledonia's main island) from 2007 to 2009. A network of concerned citizens reported grounded seabirds. Live grounded birds were rescued and released when possible, or euthanized. Groundings were mapped at the scales of both Grande Terre and Nouméa, the main city. Negative binomial regression was used to analyze the effects of light intensity and proximity to shore on the number of groundings. Of the 523 grounded seabirds recorded between 2007 and 2009, 80.2% were wedge-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna paci ica), 14.2% were Gould's petrels (Pterodroma leucoptera), and 5.4% were Tahiti petrels (Pseudobulweria rostrata). Combining all three species, an estimated 64.9% of grounded individuals were fledglings. Groundings of Gould's petrels and wedge-tailed shearwaters peaked during their respective fledging seasons (April and May). The number of lights and the proximity to shore were identified as highly significant positive factors explaining the number of groundings. Groundings were particularly numerous at industrial sites and airports. Mortality upon discovery or within days after exceeded 47.8% in the wedge-tailed shearwater, 35% in Gould's petrel, and 23% in the Tahiti petrel. The results highlight the detrimental impact of outdoor artificial lighting on three petrel species breeding on Grande Terre, including the threatened Gould's petrel and the near-threatened Tahiti petrel. They provide evidence to support the urgent implementation of artificial light reduction policies at the periphery of Nouméa, around industrial sites, and near airports especially during the fledging periods.
KEYWORDS - outdoor artificial lighting; urbanization; industrial mining; wedge-tailed shearwater; Gould’s petrel; Tahiti petrel; conservation; citizen science
... • Lighting at safe levels for crew is vital, while not using unnecessary lighting which can increase attraction of fishing operations to seabirds, and associated risks of vessel collisions and bycatch (Montevecchi 2006;Lukies et al. 2021). ...
Commercial fishing for tunas and tuna-like species supports people with food, livelihoods, and economic wellbeing. However, pelagic longline fisheries that catch these fish can also catch seabirds, including albatrosses and petrels of conservation concern. Albatrosses and petrels are long-lived, mature late, and have a limited capacity to replace themselves. Fishing-related mortalities are implicated in the population declines of some albatross and petrel species. Over time, 'best practice' measures have been identified to reduce seabird mortalities due to pelagic longline fishing. The Advisory Committee of the multilateral Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) defines best practice measures as having specified design and performance standards, as well as being practical, widely available and cost effective. Best practice measures should also be proven effective through experimental research, maintain target species catch rates, not increase bycatch of other taxa, and be subject to regulatory definition and compliance monitoring. ACAP-identified best practice for pelagic longline fisheries includes measures that should be used in combination, and measures that are adequate as standalone methods. The best practice use of measures in combination comprises bird-scaring lines (BSLs) (also known as tori lines), branchline weighting, and night setting. ACAP's standards and specifications, and recommendations, for the best practice use of these three measures include: • design, construction and installation specifications, for BSLs • mass and distances from the hook, for branchline weighting • definition of night setting in nautical terms; and, • where, when and how implementation can be monitored, for all methods. BSLs have no negative impacts on fish catch, and increased target species catch rates have been reported. Branchline weighting is mostly reported to have no effect on catch rates of tunas and billfish, with numerous weighting configurations investigated. Two studies report reduced catch rates of sharks on weighted branchlines, which could be a positive or negative outcome depending on the fishery. One study reported reductions in unwanted (discarded) catch when branchline weighting was in use. Effects of night setting on catch rates vary. Considering the target species behaviour, habitat use and day/night operational differences (e.g. set duration) is important for understanding any effects. The combination use of BSLs, branchline weighting and night setting provides an effective multifaceted system of protection against seabird bycatch because each measure operates via a unique mechanism. If one of these measures is not in place, baited hooks are less protected and seabird bycatch risks increase. More recently developed best practices measures are hookpods and underwater bait-setting devices. There is relatively less information available on these measures. However, both are shown to have no negative impacts on tuna and swordfish catches, and to effectively reduce seabird bycatch. Further, these measures are endorsed by ACAP as standalone best practice mitigation methods. Each mitigation method has characteristics strengths, limitations, and operational considerations. For fishery practitioners, benefits of implementing best practice (beyond enhancing seabird survival and persistence) include increased bait retention and availability for target catch, avoidance of lost crew time and gear from dealing with bycaught seabirds, and the ability to access premium markets where sustainability credentials may attract higher prices. The body of evidence available shows that BSLs, branchline weighting, night setting, hookpods and underwater bait setting can all significantly reduce bycatch of albatrosses and petrels in pelagic longline fisheries. Evidence comprises experimental and operational studies with varying scales, geographic scopes, species assemblages, fishery target species, and statistical analyses. Nonetheless, relatively consistent findings have emerged. This enables implementation of best practice to be progressed, alongside appropriate information collection to improve seabird bycatch management over time.
... Fledglings display increased tortuosity in their flights the closer they are to lit areas and the more intense the light pollution levels are (Rodríguez et al., 2022). Apart from fledgling fallouts, there are many documented events detailing adult seabirds being drawn to artificial lights or even crashing into them; for example, in the collision and entrapment records from lighthouses, ships and other lit structures at sea (Montevecchi, 2006;Gjerdrum et al., 2021;Ryan et al., 2021;Coleman et al., 2022). Similarly, adult little penguins, Eudyptula minor, a burrow-nesting sphenisciforme, showed preference for lit paths on land over darker ones and for paths lit with shorter wavelengths (blue light) over longer wavelengths of light (red light), upon returning to their colony (Rodríguez et al., 2018). ...
Seabirds, and particularly fledglings of burrow-nesting species, are greatly impacted by light pollution. During their inaugural flights from colony to sea, fledglings become grounded after encountering artificial light. Such groundings, or fallout events, affect many fledglings each year causing mass mortality events. To mitigate this light induced mortality, rescue programs have been implemented for decades at many locations worldwide. Despite the notoriety of fallouts and their conservation implications, the contributing behavioural and biological factors remain mostly unknown. How do the mechanisms of light attraction and light avoidance interact or how do they manifest in different groups (e.g. age, personality, populations), or light pollution levels, remain open questions. We tested behavioural choices of Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis fledglings, rescued after being grounded in urban areas, and choices of breeding adults, for contrasting light sources. Fledglings and adults were exposed to one of the three treatments in an experimental y-maze set-up: white light versus no-light, blue versus red light, and a control with no-light on each arm of the y-maze. Both age groups clearly chose the no-light arms and the red light arm. This choice for longer wavelengths and darker environments, along with slower responses by fledglings, suggests that close range artificial light appears to cause disorientation in seabirds. Our study helps to clarify the behavioural components of fallouts and provides further evidence on the disruptive effects of nocturnal artificial light on sensitive species like Procellariiformes.
... Humans increasingly use artificial lights at night (referred to as 'ALAN'), either for safety, amenity or increased productivity, especially in coastal environments (i.e. vessels, lighthouses, light-induced fisheries, urban settlements, port facilities and other infrastructures; Montevecchi 2006). Yet ALAN's presence in the environment can have negative impacts on the physiology and behaviours of animals (reviewed in Sanders et al. 2021) and impact predator-prey interactions (e.g. ...
Coastal developments are ever‐expanding and increasing the use of artificial lights within marine environments. Yet there is conflicting research on the impact of artificial lights on seabirds. Here, we experimentally investigated the impacts of artificial white lights on the behaviours (arrival time, group size, number of groups and vigilance) of breeding Little Penguins Eudyptula minor . Little Penguins are central‐place foragers that spend daylight hours foraging at sea and return to their breeding colony after sunset to attend to their chicks or relieve their incubating partners. We exposed Little Penguins returning to their colony at night to either (1) a self‐sustaining white LED floodlight or (2) a control system with a decoy light turned ‘off’. We used two different landing sites (site 1, site 2) that differed in landscape characteristics to assess whether behavioural responses to light were site‐specific. Little Penguins arrived in larger groups at the landing site 2. Regardless of site, we observed fewer groups that arrived earlier when the light was ‘on’. The effects of artificial light (or ‘lack of artificial light’) on the vigilance of Little Penguins were site‐specific, with Little Penguins spending proportionally more time in vigilance when the light was ‘off’ at site 2 compared with site 1. Our results support the idea that artificial lights produced from coastal developments can alter penguin behaviours, but that the effects of artificial lights can be context‐dependent and need to be assessed on a case‐by‐case basis.
... Many seabird populations have been negatively impacted by artificial light at night (ALAN) [1,2]. Light from coastal towns, lighthouses, fishing vessels, and offshore hydrocarbon platforms birds recovered and that the peak stranding period would occur during the Leach's Storm-Petrel fledging period from early September through October [10,13]. ...
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is negatively impacting numerous species of nocturnally active birds. Nocturnal positive phototaxis, the movement towards ALAN, is exhibited by many marine birds and can result in stranding on land. Seabird species facing major population declines may be most at risk. Leach’s Storm-Petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous) are small, threatened seabirds with an extensive breeding range in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. The Atlantic population, which represents approximately 40–48% of the global population, is declining sharply. Nocturnal positive phototaxis is considered to be a key contributing factor. The Leach’s Storm-Petrel is the seabird species most often found stranded around ALAN in the North Atlantic, though there is little experimental evidence that reduction of ALAN decreases the occurrence of stranded storm-petrels. During a two-year study at a large, brightly illuminated seafood processing plant adjacent to the Leach’s Storm-Petrel’s largest colony, we compared the number of birds that stranded when the lights at the plant were on versus significantly reduced. We recorded survival, counted carcasses of adults and juveniles, and released any rescued individuals. Daily morning surveys revealed that reducing ALAN decreased strandings by 57.11% (95% CI: 39.29% - 83.01%) per night and night surveys revealed that reducing ALAN decreased stranding of adult birds by 11.94% (95% CI: 3.47% - 41.13%) per night. The peak stranding period occurred from 25 September to 28 October, and 94.9% of the birds found during this period were fledglings. These results provide evidence to support the implementation of widespread reduction and modification of coastal artificial light as a conservation strategy, especially during avian fledging and migration periods.
With the utilization of the mineral resources of the international seabed area entering a new phase of exploitation, the international community’s concern for the protection of the marine environment in the international seabed area has also reached an unprecedented level. Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs), formulated by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), are considered as an important component of marine environmental protection in the deep seabed. However, REMPs are faced with challenges in practice under the background of deep-sea mining. In this work, we review the historical evolution of REMP, sort out the challenges faced by REMP from NWP to global and provide our suggestions to solve these issues. Specifically, the difficulties in the Northwest Pacific (NWP) REMP are mainly located in the lack of environmental scientific data. Meanwhile, from a global perspective, besides difficulties in local region, such as NWP, REMPs are facing more challenges, such as the arguments about the legal force of REMPs, conflicts between REMPs and the BBNJ Agreement, as well as absence of regulations for balancing exploitation and conservation. Focus on these challenges, suggestions are proposed including using the ISA to coordinate the application between REMPs and BBNJ Agreement and using the principle of scientific evidence to improve the regulations of REMPs. This work not only introduces a new insight for improving the framework system for the protection of the marine environment in the international seabed area, but also provides a reference for the solution to new challenges in the field of marine environmental protection.
Offshore wind energy (OSW) development, while a key strategy for reducing global reliance on fossil fuels, nevertheless has environmental effects that should be mitigated. We reviewed the scientific literature and gray literature to identify approaches for mitigating (e.g., avoiding, minimizing, or compensating for) the effects of OSW development on birds and bats (aerofauna). The review included studies from other industries where relevant, including terrestrial wind energy and the offshore oil and gas industry. Of a total of 212 mitigation approaches from 233 source documents, 59% of proposed approaches were not tested in the reviewed literature to assess effectiveness at mitigating anthropogenic impacts to aerofauna. Of the mitigation approaches that were field tested or implemented, the reviewed literature indicated evidence of their effectiveness in only about 36% of cases. Thus, there was no evidence of effectiveness for 86% of the mitigation approaches identified in this literature review. For birds, minimization approaches related to lighting (e.g., reducing artificial light, avoiding white and steady-burning lights) were the most commonly tested and effective methods for reducing maladaptive attraction and collisions. For bats, minimization via alteration of turbine operations (e.g., curtailment and feathering of turbine blades) were most commonly shown to be effective. Minimization was the main focus of this review but there is limited evidence of effectiveness for most approaches, and we suggest implementation of dedicated testing to explore the effectiveness of commonly suggested and implemented mitigation measures such as curtailment for birds. As such, avoidance of effects (via careful siting of industrial activity and related measures to avoid effects to wildlife and their habitats) remains the best available option for mitigation. To fully mitigate the effects of OSW development on aerofauna, compensation and offset strategies should also be further explored.
Işık kirliliği, belirli bir bölge içerisinde bulunan yapay ışık kaynağının gereğinden fazla ve şiddetli ışık saçması sonucunda oluşan çevresel bir risktir. Bu kirlilik canlı türleri üzerinde önemli etkilere sahiptir. Örneğin kuşların, beslenme, göç hareketi ve üreme gibi davranışlarında bozulmalara neden olmaktadır. Yapay ışık kirliliğinin tespit edilebilmesinde son yıllarda uzaktan algılanmış gece ışığı görüntüleri yaygın şekilde kullanılmaktadır. Bu araştırmanın amacı Türkiye’de yapay ışık kirliliği ile kuş gözlemleri arasındaki ilişkinin zamansal ve mekânsal olarak incelenmesidir. Bu kapsamda 2000-2022 yılları arasındaki DMSP ve VIIRS uydularından elde edilen gece ışığı görüntüleri ile dünyanın en büyük biyoçeşitlilik ile ilgili vatandaş bilimi projesi olan eBird veri tabanı kullanılmıştır. Buna göre gözlem noktalarının zamansal ve mekânsal değerlendirilmesinde Space Time Cube veri modeli oluşturulmuştur. Elde edilen veri yapısı ile Emerging Hot Spot ve Getis-Ord General G analizi uygulanarak mekânsal dağılımın istatiksel olarak anlamlılığı test edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak piksel ölçeğinde elde edilen gece ışığı yansıma değerlerindeki değişim ile gözlem noktaları arasındaki ilişki mekânsal ve zamansal olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlar gözlemlenen kuş türü sayıları ile yapay ışık değişimin yüksek olduğu alanlar arasında bir ilişki olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.