An Impact Analysis of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) on Bats. A Case Study of the Historic Monument and Natura 2000 Wis?ouj?cie Fortress in Gdansk, Poland

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska, Katarzyna Szlachetko and Katarzyna Bobkowska
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Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska: GUT LightLab, Faculty of Architecture, Gdansk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Katarzyna Szlachetko: Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Gdansk, 80-980 Gdansk, Poland
Katarzyna Bobkowska: Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-48

Abstract: The artificial light at night (ALAN) present in many cities and towns has a negative impact on numerous organisms that live alongside humans, including bats. Therefore, we investigated if the artificial illumination of the historic Wis?ouj?cie Fortress in Gda?sk, Poland (part of the Natura 2000 network), during nighttime events, which included an outdoor electronic dance music (EDM) festival, might be responsible for increased light pollution and the decline in recent years of the pond bat ( Myotis dasycneme) . An assessment of light pollution levels was made using the methods of geographical information system (GIS) and free-of-charge satellite remote sensing (SRS) technology. Moreover, this paper reviewed the most important approaches for environmental protection of bats in the context of ecological light pollution, including International, European, and Polish regulatory frameworks. The analysis of this interdisciplinary study confirmed the complexity of the problem and highlighted, too, the need for better control of artificial illumination in such sensitive areas. It also revealed that SRS was not the best light pollution assessment method for this particular case study due to several reasons listed in this paper. As a result, the authors’ proposal for improvements also involved practical recommendations for devising suitable strategies for lighting research and practice in the Natura 2000 Wis?ouj?cie Fortress site located adjacent to urban areas to reduce the potential negative impact of ALAN on bats and their natural habitats.

Keywords: external illumination; sustainable urban lighting; artificial light at night; ALAN; anthropogenic light pollution; ecological light pollution; nighttime conservation; environmental protection; environmental pollution; bats; satellite remote sensing; light pollution regulations; Natura 2000; Myotis dasycneme; VIIRS; nighttime light observations; NTL; Black Marble; light pollution map; emissions control; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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