Records |
Author |
Kyba, C.C.M.; Ruhtz, T.; Fischer, J.; Hölker, F. |
Title  |
Lunar skylight polarization signal polluted by urban lighting |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2011 |
Publication |
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres |
Abbreviated Journal |
J. Geophys. Res. |
Volume |
116 |
Issue |
D24 |
Pages |
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Keywords |
aeroecology; ecological light pollution; light pollution; moonlight; nocturnal navigation; polarized light |
Abstract |
On clear moonlit nights, a band of highly polarized light stretches across the sky at a 90 degree angle from the moon, and it was recently demonstrated that nocturnal organisms are able to navigate based on it. Urban skyglow is believed to be almost unpolarized, and is therefore expected to dilute this unique partially linearly polarized signal. We found that urban skyglow has a greater than expected degree of linear polarization (p = 8.6 ± 0.3%), and confirmed that its presence diminishes the natural lunar polarization signal. We also observed that the degree of linear polarization can be reduced as the moon rises, due to the misalignment between the polarization angles of the skyglow and scattered moonlight. Under near ideal observing conditions, we found that the lunar polarization signal was clearly visible (p = 29.2 ± 0.8%) at a site with minimal light pollution 28 km from Berlin's center, but was reduced (p = 11.3 ± 0.3%) within the city itself. Daytime measurements indicate that without skyglow pwould likely be in excess of 50%. These results indicate that nocturnal animal navigation systems based on perceiving polarized scattered moonlight likely fail to operate properly in highly light-polluted areas, and that future light pollution models must take polarization into account. |
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0148-0227 |
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IDA @ john @ |
Serial |
21 |
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Author |
Foster, J.J.; Kirwan, J.D.; El Jundi, B.; Smolka, J.; Khaldy, L.; Baird, E.; Byrne, M.J.; Nilsson, D.-E.; Johnsen, S.; Dacke, M. |
Title  |
Orienting to polarized light at night – matching lunar skylight to performance in a nocturnal beetle |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2019 |
Publication |
The Journal of Experimental Biology |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Exp Biol |
Volume |
222 |
Issue |
Pt 2 |
Pages |
jeb188532 |
Keywords |
Animals; Natural skylight; insects; South African dung beetle; Escarabaeus satyrus; polarized light; Orientation |
Abstract |
For polarized light to inform behaviour, the typical range of degrees of polarization observable in the animal's natural environment must be above the threshold for detection and interpretation. Here, we present the first investigation of the degree of linear polarization threshold for orientation behaviour in a nocturnal species, with specific reference to the range of degrees of polarization measured in the night sky. An effect of lunar phase on the degree of polarization of skylight was found, with smaller illuminated fractions of the moon's surface corresponding to lower degrees of polarization in the night sky. We found that the South African dung beetle Escarabaeus satyrus can orient to polarized light for a range of degrees of polarization similar to that observed in diurnal insects, reaching a lower threshold between 0.04 and 0.32, possibly as low as 0.11. For degrees of polarization lower than 0.23, as measured on a crescent moon night, orientation performance was considerably weaker than that observed for completely linearly polarized stimuli, but was nonetheless stronger than in the absence of polarized light. |
Address |
Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Solvegatan 35, 223 62 Lund, Sweden |
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English |
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0022-0949 |
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Notes |
PMID:30530838 |
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no |
Call Number |
GFZ @ kyba @ |
Serial |
2599 |
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Author |
Horváth, G.; Kriska, G.; Malik, P.; Robertson, B. |
Title  |
Polarized light pollution: a new kind of ecological photopollution |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2009 |
Publication |
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment |
Abbreviated Journal |
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment |
Volume |
7 |
Issue |
6 |
Pages |
317-325 |
Keywords |
light pollution; polarization; polarized light pollution |
Abstract |
The alteration of natural cycles of light and dark by artificial light sources has deleterious impacts on animals and ecosystems. Many animals can also exploit a unique characteristic of light â its direction of polarization âas a source of information. We introduce the term âpolarized light pollutionâ (PLP) to focus attention on the ecological consequences of light that has been polarized through interaction with human-made objects. Unnatural polarized light sources can trigger maladaptive behaviors in polarization-sensitive taxa and alter ecological interactions. PLP is an increasingly common byproduct of human technology, and mitigating its effects through selective use of building materials is a realistic solution. Our understanding of how most species use polarization vision is limited, but the capacity of PLP to drastically increase mortality and reproductive failure in animal populations suggests that PLP should become a focus for conservation biologists and resource managers alike. |
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1540-9295 |
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IDA @ john @ |
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22 |
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Author |
Robertson, B.A.; Keddy-Hector, I.A.; Shrestha, S.D.; Silverberg, L.Y.; Woolner, C.E.; Hetterich, I.; Horváth, G. |
Title  |
Susceptibility to ecological traps is similar among closely related taxa but sensitive to spatial isolation |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2018 |
Publication |
Animal Behaviour |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
135 |
Issue |
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Pages |
77-84 |
Keywords |
aquatic insect; behaviour; evolutionary trap; light pollution; maladaptation; polarized light pollution |
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0003-3472 |
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Call Number |
LoNNe @ schroer @ |
Serial |
1793 |
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