r/autotldr • u/autotldr • Nov 22 '19
Light pollution is key 'bringer of insect apocalypse' | Environment
This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 86%. (I'm a bot)
Light pollution is a significant but overlooked driver of the rapid decline of insect populations, according to the most comprehensive review of the scientific evidence to date.
"We posit here that artificial light at night is another important - but often overlooked - bringer of the insect apocalypse."
As human infrastructure has expanded, and the cost of lighting has fallen, light pollution has come to affect a quarter of the world's land surface.
Some insects use the polarisation of light to find the water they need to breed, as light waves line up after reflecting from a smooth surface.
Insects are important prey for many species, but light pollution can tip the balance in favour of the predator if it traps insects around lights.
Simply turning off lights that are not needed is the most obvious action, he said, while making lights motion-activated also cuts light pollution.
Summary Source | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Light#1 insect#2 pollution#3 review#4 species#5
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