Nature’s nocturnal services: Light pollution as a non-recognised challenge for ecosystem services research and management

Research focusing on ecosystem services has tackled several of the major drivers of environmental degradation, but it suffers from a blind spot related to light pollution. Light pollution caused by artificial night-time lighting is a global environmental change affecting terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems. The long-term effects of the disruption of the natural cycles of light and dark on ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services are largely unknown. Even though additional research is clearly needed, identifying, developing and implementing stringent management actions aimed at reducing inadequately installed, unnecessary or excessive lighting are well justified. This essay argues that management is hampered, because ecosystem services from nocturnal nature are increasingly underappreciated by the public due to shifting baseline syndrome, making most people accustomed to constantly illuminated and light-polluted night environments. Increased attention from scientists, managers and the public is needed in order to explicate the best options for preserving the benefits from natural darkness.

► Light pollution is a global environmental change that is increasingly interrupting ecosystems.
► The importance of nocturnal nature for ecosystem services has been neglected.
► The shifting baseline syndrome alienates people from natural darkness.
► Management of nocturnal ecosystem services is both necessary and complicated.
► A novel concept of scotoecology is proposed.