BIO 340 Final Project: Effects of Light Pollution on Bat Activity

Cael Schneider - Environmental Biology ‘28 Artificial light at night (light pollution) is an increasing consequence of urbanization and can disrupt nocturnal wildlife. Bats are especially susceptible, as they rely on dark skies for navigation, predator avoidance, and foraging. The effects of artificial light may vary among species due to differences in foraging strategies, habitat use, and light tolerance. Previous research has documented negative effects of artificial light on bat foraging, roosting, breeding, and hibernation. However, some species, such as red bats, may forage near artificial lights where insects are abundant. Species including the big brown bat, hoary bat, and eastern red bat are considered relatively light-tolerant, though activity may still decline under high light levels. This study examines how county-level artificial light (μcd/m²) influences observations of five common U.S. bat species: big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), and silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans). BIO 340 final project