How modern lighting systems impact wildlife 

• Disruption of Natural Behavior:

Artificial lights can disrupt the natural behavior of wildlife, especially those that are nocturnal or crepuscular. Nocturnal animals may alter their feeding, mating, or hunting patterns in the presence of artificial lights. Predators may have an advantage in hunting when there is increased visibility due to artificial lighting, impacting the balance in ecosystems.

• Attraction and Disturbance:

Lights can attract insects, and subsequently, attract insect-eating species. This can lead to changes in local ecosystems and affect the distribution of species. Birds, for example, might be attracted to city lights during migration, leading to collisions with buildings.

• Alteration of Circadian Rhythms:

Many organisms, plants and animals, rely on natural light cues to regulate their circadian rhythms. Artificial lights can disrupt these rhythms, impacting various physiological processes such as sleep-wake cycles, reproduction, and hormone regulation.

• Impact on Nesting and Migration:

Sea turtles, for instance, are known to be affected by coastal lighting. Hatchlings are naturally guided by moonlight to the ocean, but artificial lights can lead them in the wrong direction, causing disorientation and increasing the risk of predation.

• Skyglow and Light Pollution:

Light pollution, or the scattering of artificial light in the atmosphere, can affect the natural darkness of the night sky. This can impact celestial navigation used by nocturnal animals, such as bats and birds.

• Habitat Fragmentation:

Urbanization and the associated artificial lights contribute to habitat fragmentation. The increasing presence of lights can isolate natural habitats, making it difficult for wildlife to move between areas and leading to population declines.

• Health Impacts:

Prolonged exposure to artificial lights can have physiological effects on some species, affecting their overall health and well-being.