@article{KalinkatJechowSchroeretal.2025, author = {Kalinkat, Gregor and Jechow, Andreas and Schroer, Sibylle and H{\"o}lker, Franz}, title = {Nocturnal pandas: conservation umbrellas protecting nocturnal biodiversity}, series = {Trends in Ecology \& Evolution}, volume = {40}, journal = {Trends in Ecology \& Evolution}, number = {8}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2025.05.006}, pages = {736 -- 739}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Light pollution is an emerging ecological threat. To mitigate its negative consequences, creative inter- and transdisciplinary solutions and societal interactions are needed. To this end, we introduce nocturnal umbrella species representative of light-sensitive biodiversity whose protection will safeguard vital ecosystem services and a wide range of co-occurring species.}, language = {en} } @article{DietenbergerJechowKalinkatetal.2024, author = {Dietenberger, Manuel and Jechow, Andreas and Kalinkat, Gregor and Schroer, Sibylle and Saathoff, Birte and H{\"o}lker, Franz}, title = {Reducing the fatal attraction of nocturnal insects using tailored and shielded road lights}, series = {communications biology}, volume = {7}, journal = {communications biology}, doi = {10.1038/s42003-024-06304-4}, pages = {1 -- 12}, year = {2024}, abstract = {The attraction of insects to artificial light is a global environmental problem with far-reaching implications for ecosystems. Since light pollution is rarely integrated into conservation approaches, effective mitigation strategies towards environmentally friendly lighting that drastically reduce insect attraction are urgently needed. Here, we tested novel luminaires in two experiments (i) at a controlled experimental field site and (ii) on streets within three municipalities. The luminaires are individually tailored to only emit light onto the target area and to reduce spill light. In addition, a customized shielding renders the light source nearly invisible beyond the lit area. We show that these novel luminaires significantly reduce the attraction effect on flying insects compared to different conventional luminaires with the same illuminance on the ground. This underlines the huge potential of spatially optimized lighting to help to bend the curve of global insect decline without compromising human safety aspects. A customized light distribution should therefore be part of sustainable future lighting concepts, most relevant in the vicinity of protected areas.}, language = {en} }