Impact of artificial lighting on the ecosystem / Influência da iluminação artificial sobre a vida silvestre: técnicas para minimizar os impactos, com especial enfoque sobre os insetos

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

The impact of light pollution on man and on the ecosystem is a rising concern among ecologists however, in the same time the human population is demanding more lighting for safety and comfort. In order to satisfy human lighting needs with a minimum impact on the ecosystem, manly on insects, we tested commercial equipments using different types of lights and using selective wavelength filters. The hypothesis underlying the experiment was that humans and insects have a different visual sensibility for wavelength, but insect attraction for lighting is not just a phototropism. Insects use artificial lighting as a landmark for navigation and contrast between short wave (UV and blue) and medium wave (green) radiation is used to screen the space. Selecting wavelength emission of the lighting systems could be possible to minimize insect attraction. In a two years long campaign we undertook insect collection tests using insect traps. We compared four lighting systems: high-pressure mercury bulb (Hg), high-pressure sodium bulb(Na) without and with UV filter (Hg_f; Na_f) and a lighting fixture with an insect trap without bulb as a control. The results of the test have shown that Hg lamp attracted an average of 70 insects by night, Na lamp 45, Hg_f 23, Na_f 16 ad Test lamp 8. The result confirm the proposed hypothesis and can be used in the elaboration of minimum impact lighting fixtures.

ASSUNTO(S)

iluminação pública insetos meio ambiente public lighting light pollution ecosystem insects poluição luminosa

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