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Abstract
The Balkan Peninsula has rich biodiversity with a large number of endemic species; therefore, a part of its territory has been recognized as a World Biodiversity Hotspot. Despite nature conservation efforts and development of nature conservation networks in countries of the region, anthropogenic influence on natural and semi natural ecosystems is increasing. Moreover, new types of disturbance and pollution arise, and one of the more recent being artificial light at night (ALAN) which has serious consequences on reproduction, navigation, foraging, habitat selection, communication, trophic and social interactions of the biota. We have estimated the level of ecological light pollution in the strict protected areas of the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Bulgaria, and Montenegro using available Google Earth Pro tools, and the New World Atlas of Artificial Sky Brightness (2016) in the form of a kmz layer. The research has covered 13 National Parks, 11 Nature Parks and 55 Reserves. Our results showed widespread incursion of ALAN within strict protected areas in the studied region that has also been noted for some other countries and regions too. However, the level of light pollution is lower here, than in the most part of Continental Europe, and there are a few areas in each country where the night sky above National and Natural Parks is almost dark. These territories have a special value for nature conservation; therefore, it is important to save the dark night sky there.
Highlights
The Balkan Peninsula has rich biodiversity with a large number of endemic species; a part of its territory has been recognized as a World Biodiversity Hotspot
Our results showed widespread incursion of artificial light at night (ALAN) within strict protected areas in the studied region that has been noted for some other countries and regions too
New types of disturbance and pollution arise, one of the more recent pressures is artificial light at night (ALAN) that has already been noted for protected areas of autonomous province of Vojvodina in North Serbia (Bjelajac and Đerčan 2019)
Summary
The Balkan Peninsula has rich biodiversity with a large number of endemic species; a part of its territory has been recognized as a World Biodiversity Hotspot. New types of disturbance and pollution arise, and one of the more recent being artificial light at night (ALAN) which has serious consequences on reproduction, navigation, foraging, habitat selection, communication, trophic and social interactions of the biota. Nowadays there is no exact data about the level of ALAN from which the impact on biodiversity starts (Falchi et al 2016), but a lot of evidence about ALAN influence on reproduction, navigation, foraging, habitat selection, communication, trophic, and social interactions of the biota have already been discussed (Bennie et al 2016; Dominoni et al 2016; Gaston and Bennie 2014; Hölker et al 2010b; Longcore and Rich 2004; Navara and Nelson 2007; Rich and Longcore 2006). Understanding of benefits which human society has from ALAN (Boyce 2019; Gaston et al 2015b), as well as its dynamics (Cinzano et al 2001; Falchi et al 2016, 2019; Kyba et al 2017) does not allow considering this disturbance factor as temporary or insignificant for species, especially nocturnal ones
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