Seabird mortality induced by land‐based artificial lights |
| |
Authors: | Airam Rodríguez Nick D Holmes Peter G Ryan Kerry‐Jayne Wilson Lucie Faulquier Yovana Murillo André F Raine Jay F Penniman Verónica Neves Beneharo Rodríguez Juan J Negro André Chiaradia Peter Dann Tracy Anderson Benjamin Metzger Masaki Shirai Lorna Deppe Jennifer Wheeler Peter Hodum Catia Gouveia Vanda Carmo Gilberto P Carreira Luis Delgado‐Alburqueque Carlos Guerra‐Correa François‐Xavier Couzi Marc Travers Matthieu Le Corre |
| |
Institution: | 1. Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Do?ana (CSIC), Seville, Spain;2. Island Conservation, Santa Cruz, CA, U.S.A.;3. Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa;4. West Coast Penguin Trust, Charleston, West Coast, New Zealand;5. Ornithological Society of French Polynesia, Taravao, Tahiti;6. Ringed Storm‐Petrel Project, Peru;7. Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project, Kauai, HI, U.S.A.;8. Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project, Haiku, HI, U.S.A.;9. Department of Oceanography & Fisheries (DOP), University of the Azores, MARE (Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre), IMAR (Institute of Marine Research), Horta, Azores, Portugal;10. Canary Islands’ Ornithology and Natural History Group (GOHNIC), Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain;11. Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia;12. Save Our Shearwaters, Lihue, Kauai, HI, U.S.A.;13. BirdLife Malta, Flat 2, Xemxija Waterfront Apartments, Triq Is‐Simar, Xemxija, Malta;14. Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Abiko‐shi, Chiba, Japan;15. The Hutton's Shearwater Charitable Trust, New Zealand;16. BirdsCaribbean, Arlington, VA, U.S.A.;17. Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, Kailua, HI, U.S.A.;18. Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds, Madeira, Portugal;19. Dire??o Regional dos Assuntos do Mar;20. Secretaria Regional do Mar, Ciência e Tecnologia;21. Governo Regional dos A?ores;22. Colónia Alem? ‐ Apartado 9, Horta, Azores, Portugal;23. Ringed Storm‐Petrel Project, Veterinary Science School, Ricardo Palma University, Perú;24. Centro Regional de Estudios y Educación Ambiental, Universidad de Antofagasta (CREA‐UA), Antofagasta, Chile;25. Société d’études Ornithologiques de la Réunion, La Réunion, France;26. UMR ENTROPIE, Université de la Réunion 15, La Réunion, France |
| |
Abstract: | Artificial lights at night cause high mortality of seabirds, one of the most endangered groups of birds globally. Fledglings of burrow‐nesting seabirds, and to a lesser extent adults, are attracted to and then grounded (i.e., forced to land) by lights when they fly at night. We reviewed the current state of knowledge of seabird attraction to light to identify information gaps and propose measures to address the problem. Although species in families such as Alcidae and Anatidae can be grounded by artificial light, the most affected seabirds are petrels and shearwaters (Procellariiformes). At least 56 species of Procellariiformes, more than one‐third of them (24) threatened, are subject to grounding by lights. Seabirds grounded by lights have been found worldwide, mainly on oceanic islands but also at some continental locations. Petrel breeding grounds confined to formerly uninhabited islands are particularly at risk from light pollution due to tourism and urban sprawl. Where it is impractical to ban external lights, rescue programs of grounded birds offer the most immediate and employed mitigation to reduce the rate of light‐induced mortality and save thousands of birds every year. These programs also provide useful information for seabird management. However, these data are typically fragmentary, biased, and uncertain and can lead to inaccurate impact estimates and poor understanding of the phenomenon of seabird attraction to lights. We believe the most urgently needed actions to mitigate and understand light‐induced mortality of seabirds are estimation of mortality and effects on populations; determination of threshold light levels and safe distances from light sources; documentation of the fate of rescued birds; improvement of rescue campaigns, particularly in terms of increasing recovery rates and level of care; and research on seabird‐friendly lights to reduce attraction. |
| |
Keywords: | disorientation illumination light pollution orientation petrel rescue campaign campañ a de rescate contaminació n lumí nica desorientació n iluminació n orientació n petrel |
|
|