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​ALAN - Artificial Light At Night

While life evolved under the influence of the day-night alternation, the recent development of artificial light at night is dramatically changing the environmental conditions in which species live, interact and evolve. As a result, light pollution is now identified as a growing threat to biodiversity. In this context, the Team Chiro is conducting research to better understand and assess the effects of this anthropogenic pressure on bats, at different spatial scales (local to landscape) and temporal scales (from intra-night to inter-annual). In particular, the aim is to assess the relative influence of different light parameters (intensity, spectrum, etc.) on the spatial and temporal distribution of different species according to their traits and thus their sensitivity levels, in order to better protect them. 

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We pay special attention to ensure that these studies provide recommendations for conservation. In particular, this involves assessing the effectiveness of current and future measures to reduce light pollution (part-night lighting, changes in intensity, spectrum, etc.), developing indicators (effects of this pressure on communities) and prospective approaches based on scenarios (choices of public policies). 

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To lead to actions, these recommendations have to take into account the realities of the field, and therefore health and socio-cultural issues. As a consequence, the Team Chiro is involved in multi- and trans-disciplinary approaches aiming, for instance, to foster the emergence of integrative reflections and tools for the preservation of the night-time environment across time and space.
 

2020-05-14 (5) Lampadaires_petit
2020-05-14 (5) Lampadaires_petit

2020-05-14 (5) Lampadaires_petit
2020-05-14 (5) Lampadaires_petit

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Photo: Léa Mariton

Projects (and postdoctoral researchers)

  • EOLUM (2024) Effects of obstruction aviation lights of wind turbine on bat activity. Postdoctoral researcher. Supervisors: Camille Leroux (Auddicé), Kévin Barré and Christian Kerbiriou, collab.: Isabelle Le Viol. Funding: ADEME.

  • CONNECT (2023) Impacts of new lighting technologies on landscape connectivity for bats. Postdoctoral researcher: Léa Mariton. Supervisors: Isabelle Le Viol and Christian Kerbiriou. Funding: Sponsorship.

  • LARN (2019-2021) Coastal Artificial light at night. Supervisor: Laurent Godet (Nantes University), Partners: Isabelle Le Viol, Christian Kerbiriou and al.. Funding: Fondation de France.

  • BATLIGHT (2020-2021) Light pollution: Sensitivity indicators of communities to this pressure to better assess the effectiveness of management measures. Postdoctoral researcher: Gaëlle Legras. Supervisors: Isabelle Le Viol and Christian Kerbiriou, collab.: Yves Bas. Funding: OFB-ONB and FRB.

  • AMBRE (2021-2024) Impacts of white and amber LEDs. Supervisor: Samuel Busson (CEREMA), collab.: Christian Kerbiriou. Funding: CEREMA.

  • CHIROLUM (2018-2020) How to mitigate ecological impacts of artificial light at night along linear transport infrastructures? Characterisation of the influence of lighting parameters on bat movements. Postdoctoral researcher: Kévin Barré. Supervisor: Isabelle Le Viol, collab.: Christian Kerbiriou, Kamiel Spoelstra (Wageningen University), Georges Zissis (Toulouse University), Samuel Challéat (Toulouse University), Dany Lapostolle (Bourgogne Franche-Comté University) and Ros Kiri Ing (Institut Langevin). Funding: ITTECOP, ADEME and FRB.

  • TRAMENOIRE (2015-2016) Study and research programme for the development of the dark ecological network in Lille urban area. Supervisor: Baptiste Faure (Biotope). Partners: Christian Kerbiriou, Isabelle Le Viol, Jean-François Julien, Clémentine Azam, CEFE, TVES, Ville de Lille, ENLM, CMNF, ANPCEN. Funding: Région Nord-Pas-de-Calais and FRB.

  • TACOTAC (2015-2016) Animal movement and connectivity: insights from acoustic trajectography. Postdoctoral researcher: Yves Bas. Supervisor: Isabelle Le Viol, collab.: Christian Kerbiriou, Jean-François Julien, Aurélie Coulon, Clémentine Azam, Ros Kiri Ing (Institut Langevin) and Laurent Daudet (Institut Langevin). Funding: PRES Emergence 2014, Sorbonne University.

 

Theses

  • Léa Mariton (2020-2023) Taking light pollution effects on biodiversity into account in conservation measures : challenges and prospects. Case study of European bat species. Supervisors: Christian Kerbiriou, Isabelle Le Viol and Brigitte Zanda. Founding: Institut de la transition environnementale de l’Alliance Sorbonne Université (SU-ITE)

  • Alexis Laforge (2017-2020) How to mitigate the effect of habitat fragmentation by roads and light pollution on bats?: contributions of landscape ecology. Supervisors: Luc Barbaro and Frédéric Archaux. Founding: ANRT, CEN Midi-Pyrénées and DREAL Occitanie.

  • Julie Pauwels (2015-2018) Light pollution and biodiversity: What are the levers of action to limit the impact of artificial lighting on nocturnal fauna?. Supervisors: Isabelle Le Viol, Christian Kerbiriou and Emmanuelle Porcher. Founding: ANRT and Auddicé biodiversité.

  • Clémentine Azam (2013-2016) English: Impacts of light pollution on bat spatiotemporal dynamics in France: implications for outdoor lighting planning. Supervisors: Isabelle Le Viol, Christian Kerbiriou and Denis Couvet. Founding: DIM R2DS and Région Ile-de-France

  • Aurélie Lacoeuilhe (2011-2014) Biodiversity management on anthropised sites: from company sites to landscape scale. Supervisors: Nathalie Machon and Christian Kerbiriou. Founding: EDF

 

Master’s degree (internship)

  • (2024) Effects of obstruction aviation lights of wind turbine on bat activity. Supervisors: Camille Leroux (Auddicé) and Kévin Barré. Founding: ADEME (EOLUM project).

  • Olivia Gardella (2022) Public lighting practices in the municipalities of the French regional nature Parks. Supervisors: Samuel Challéat (Université de Toulouse), Léa Mariton and Johan Milian (Université Paris 8). Founding: MNHN.

  • Caroline Trochard (2022) Sensitivity of birds and bats to landscape anthropization in France. Supervisors: Laurent Godet (Nantes University), Christian Kerbiriou, Isabelle Le Viol. Founding: Fondation de France (LARN project).

  • Julien Le Levier (2022) Inter- and intra-specific density-dependence in bats in relation to light pollution. Supervisor: Kévin Barré.

  • Camille Herminet (2021) Investigating the role of aviation light in wind turbines indirect effects on bats. Supervisor: Camille Leroux (Auddicé). Founding: ANRT and Auddicé biodiversité.

  • Iuna Thomas (2019) Cross-influences of LED spectrum and luminous intensity on the use of ecological continuities by bats. Supervisor: Kévin Barré. Founding: FRB.

  • Julie Pauwels (2015) Functional connectivity at night: what is the impact of artificial lightning on bats? Supervisors: Christian. Kerbiriou, Isabelle Le Viol and Clémentine Azam.

  • Cécile Aubert (2015) Analysis of the impact of nocturnal public lighting “extinction” measures and sustainable gardening measures on roads on the activity of bats in the Essonne department. Supervisors: Christian Kerbiriou and Jean-Marc Lustrat (Conseil départemental de l’Essonne). Founding: Conseil départemental de l’Essonne.

  • -Arthur Vernet (2014) Analysis of the effect of public lighting management on bat activity in the Gâtinais français regional nature Park. Supervisors: Clémentine Azam, Isabelle Le Viol and Christian Kerbiriou. Founding: PNR du Gâtinais.

  • Laurie Burette (2014) Analysis of the impact of artificial light at night on the selection of roosting sites and on the phenology of four bat species. Supervisors: Clémentine Azam, Isabelle Le Viol and Christian Kerbiriou. Founding: CESCO.

  • Noémie Ruellan (2013) Light pollution: between social demands and the desire to reduce artificial light at night. Supervisor: Isabelle Le Viol.
     

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