MSGID: 1:317/3 63d89965   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Short-term bang of fireworks has long-term impact on wildlife    
      
     Date:   
         January 30, 2023   
     Source:   
         Curtin University   
     Summary:   
         Popular fireworks should be replaced with cleaner drone and laser   
         light shows to avoid the 'highly damaging' impact on wildlife,   
         domestic pets and the broader environment, new research has found.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   Popular fireworks should be replaced with cleaner drone and laser light   
   shows to avoid the "highly damaging" impact on wildlife, domestic pets   
   and the broader environment, new Curtin-led research has found.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   The new research, published in Pacific Conservation Biology, examined   
   the environmental toll of firework displays by reviewing the ecological   
   effects of Diwali festivities in India, Fourth of July celebrations   
   across the United States of America, and other events in New Zealand   
   and parts of Europe.   
      
   Examples included fireworks in Spanish festivals impacting the breeding   
   success of House Sparrows, July firework displays being implicated in   
   the decline of Brandt's Cormorant colonies in California, and South   
   American sea lions changing their behaviour during breeding season as   
   a result of New Year's fireworks in Chile.   
      
   Lead author Associate Professor Bill Bateman, from Curtin's School of   
   Molecular and Life Sciences, said fireworks remained globally popular   
   despite the overwhelming evidence that they negatively impacted wildlife,   
   domestic animals and the environment.   
      
   "Fireworks create short-term noise and light disturbances that cause   
   distress in domestic animals that may be managed before or after a   
   firework event, but the impacts to wildlife can be on a much larger   
   scale," Associate Professor Bateman said.   
      
   "The annual timing of some large-scale firework events coincides with   
   the migratory or reproductive movements of wildlife, and may therefore   
   have adverse long-term population effects on them. Fireworks also   
   produce significant pulses of highly pollutant materials that also   
   contribute significantly to the chemical pollution of soil, water,   
   and air, which has implications for human as well as animal health."   
   Associate Professor Bateman said firework bans at sensitive periods for   
   wildlife migration or mating periods could limit the impact, as well as   
   drone or other light-based shows.   
      
   "Other than horses, for which there is some evidence that they can be   
   gradually familiarised with flashes of light, there is very little that   
   can be done to address the disturbing impact of noise from fireworks on   
   animals and wildlife," Associate Professor Bateman said.   
      
   "The future of firework displays may be in the use of safer and greener   
   alternatives such as drones, eco-friendly fireworks or visible-wavelength   
   lasers for light shows.   
      
   "There is growing evidence that these community events can be managed in   
   a sustainable way and it's clear that out-dated firework displays need   
   to be replaced by cleaner options that are not harmful to wildlife and   
   the environment."   
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Matter_&_Energy   
                   # Optics # Graphene # Chemistry   
             o Earth_&_Climate   
                   # Ecology # Environmental_Issues # Sustainability   
             o Science_&_Society   
                   # Environmental_Policies # Land_Management # Legal_Issues   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Fireworks o PCB o Phosphorus o Xenon o Pesticide_poisoning   
             o Information_and_communication_technologies o Dioxin o   
             Special_relativity   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by Curtin_University. Original written   
   by Yasmine Phillips.   
      
   Note: Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Philip W. Bateman, Lauren N. Gilson, Penelope Bradshaw. Not just   
      a flash   
         in the pan: short and long term impacts of fireworks on the   
         environment.   
      
         Pacific Conservation Biology, 2023; DOI: 10.1071/PC22040   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230130213944.htm   
      
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