A recent publication featured on the peer-reviewed online journal PLoS looked at the differences between LED bulbs and older LPS (low-pressure sodium lighting) on the behavior of suburban population of bats to discover whether LED is having any ecological effect on the species. The idea being to measure the effect with a view to reducing the impact of any inteference with the finely tuned eco-system that has developed in and around cities.
The author’s conclusion was that bat populations UK suburbia were unaffected by the switch to LED from LPS bulbs, however, a concern remains that animals and plants are having to adapt to a new environmental filter which could effect them in as yet untold ways and potentially begin to erode ecological stability.
Previous species-related findings from studies in New Zealand revealed switching to LED resulted in an impact on insects by attracting significantly large amount more, although the study was not conducted in an urban area, the findings were notable.
How does the constant light pollution of cities affect the behavior of other species besides ourselves is the question currently being asked by some in the interest of ecological concern. Along with the question of why are we not seeking to create lighting solutions that imitate natural environments, a difficult task indeed in cities. The importance of these questions not doubt will come into play more and more as we continue the huge ‘green’ shift towards replacing traditional bulbs with LEDs in the name of energy saving.
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