The latest research spearheaded by the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, in collaboration with the University of Witwatersrand and the University of Glasgow, explores an unconventional method to study the effects of artificial light on urban wildlife. With the backdrop of South Africa’s frequent electrical blackouts due to load-shedding, researchers are seizing the opportunity to investigate the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on wildlife behaviors in urban environments.
In South Africa, scheduled blackouts, necessitated by the electricity supply challenges the state utility faces, provide a unique environment for this study. These blackouts, lasting several hours, drastically reduce artificial light, creating a natural laboratory setting. This scenario allows scientists to conduct large-scale experimental research, comparing wildlife behavior during periods of normal illumination and blackout conditions within the same geographic and temporal context.
Remote satellite data has been pivotal in this research, revealing a significant reduction in night-time radiance—by as much as 13% in some South African cities during load-shedding. This quantifiable decrease in light pollution offers a rare opportunity to assess wildlife responses in a controlled environment. Such reductions are already visible from space, underscoring the tangible impact of blackouts on light pollution levels. The study, published in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution, underscores the profound influence of ALAN on urban-dwelling animals.
Previous research has shown that artificial light disrupts nocturnal behaviors, but this new approach provides a larger scale and more controlled setting to observe these effects. Researchers are particularly interested in short-term behavioral changes in wildlife, such as alterations in movement patterns, foraging behaviors, and species interactions during blackouts.
The research team emphasizes the importance of international collaboration to maximize the potential of this unique research opportunity. UCT’s Associate Professor Arjun Amar, the study’s lead author, highlights the importance of global participation, urging researchers worldwide to collaborate with South African scientists. This partnership could combine the extensive experience of international experts in studying ALAN with the local knowledge of South African researchers, enhancing the study’s depth and breadth.
Despite challenges, such as potential safety risks when conducting night-time research in urban areas, the benefits are compelling. The study’s co-author, Dr. Davide Dominoni from the University of Glasgow, points out that this research method surpasses traditional small-scale experiments and large-scale correlative studies. By leveraging load-shedding as a natural experiment, researchers can gain unprecedented insights into the unappreciated consequences of light pollution on urban wildlife.
In summary, South Africa’s electrical blackouts offer an innovative and large-scale experimental framework to study the impacts of artificial light on wildlife. This research not only sheds light on the ecological effects of ALAN but also paves the way for future global collaborations to understand and mitigate the environmental impacts of urbanization.
