Light Pollution Intensity in the Aquatic Environment of the Oslo Area ...

• Main Authors: FONTAINE, Romain, Gunnar Lindbo, Nils
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Zenodo 2024
• Subjects: light pollution; alan; fish; Coastal ecosystems; Freshwater ecosystems; aquatic ecosystem; oslo; norway; Akerselva; Norway; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13324980; https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.13324980

The rapid expansion of artificial lighting in urban areas has resulted in significant light pollution, with profound implications for both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Artificial light interferes with the circadian rhythms of animals, impacting their behavior, reproduction, and migration patterns. For instance, birds and sea turtles that rely on moonlight for navigation can become disoriented by artificial lights, leading to fatal light attraction. Similarly, aquatic species may experience changes in their reproductive cycles and behavior due to altered light conditions. Previous studies observed that light pollution affects salmon migration and the reproductive timing of various fish species. While light pollution disrupts the natural light environment crucial for many aquatic species, the Oslo area includes two endangered species, the coastal cod and the wild Atlantic salmon which reproduce in coastal areas and rivers. This study thus focuses on invesitgating the extent of light pollution in the ...