Urbanization is an emerging issue with the potential to transform the global landscape. An often ignored result of urbanization is the increase of excessive or obtrusive artificial light. This increase in artificial light, also known as light pollution impacts organisms’ environment and behavioral patterns. Previous research illustrates that light pollution alters community compositions but there is a lack of literature quantifying the rate and extent of light pollution's impact on an ecosystem. To quantify the impacts of light pollution, this study investigates the effects of introducing novel light sources to an undisturbed forest. Before the introduction of light, pitfall traps were placed in transects and monitored to assess the invertebrate community in the area. These pitfall traps continued to be monitored after light was introduced at varying levels from 0-120 lux over a period of five days. At the end of the five days the light sources were shut off and pitfall traps continued to be monitored.
Results/Conclusions
Results from this study indicate that the introduction of artificial light impacts arthropod community composition on a species and guild level. Specifically, richness among ground dwelling arthropods increases in areas with prolonged exposure to artificial light and there is an increase in the abundance of predatory arthropods in areas exposed to light pollution. The rate of light pollution’s impact on arthropod communities is also seen in this study. Lags in community changes suggest that light pollution’s impacts are not instantaneous, and the changes caused by light pollution do not immediately revert after the light source is removed. Developers, city planners, and conservationists should use the results from this work to understand how artificial light may impact wildlife and how altering the placement or time when light is run may keep natural communities unaltered.