Use of Bioluminescent Coleoptera as potential indicators of light pollution

• Grant number: 11/16653-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Radiology and Photobiology
• Principal Investigator: Vadim Viviani
• Grantee: Raphael Machado Santos
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Fireflies depend on their bioluminescence for reproduction, and for this reason are very sensitive to artificial night lighting conditions. Evidences suggest the loss of diversity of species of fireflies in the world are related to artificial nightlighting. Therefore, we aim to investigate the use of fireflies as indicators of light pollution. To this aim, we will investigate the diversity of fireflies urbanizing areas in the region of Sorocaba, mainly the campus of UFSCAR in Sorocaba, in which the studies started in 2006. The natural and artificial nightlight intensity and other environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity, and the activities of fireflies, mainly Photinus sp1, will be recorded.We also will record the bioluminescence spectra of these species and compare them with the environmental nightlight spectral composition, in order to find out whether there is a correlation between these parameters and the species which are affected or not by artificial nightlighting.