Title:

Arthropod phototaxis and its possible effect on bird strike risk at two Namibian airports

Publication Year:
2015
Abstract:

Aircraft wildlife collisions are a global safety and financial problem for the aviation industry, with birds being the main concern. In Namibia, 97% of collisions at Namibia's two main airports are reported to be with insectivorous birds. Phototaxis was identified as a major attractant to insectivorous birds, which feed on the arthropods attracted to airport apron and terminal lights. This study considered the effect of light as an attraction at the rurally situated Hosea Kutako International and urban Eros airports. It further investigated the attractiveness of light colour (or wavelength) on arthropod abundance, biomass and diversity. The study found that phototaxis was a significant factor at Hosea Kutako only, and that white light was the main attractant for arthropods, specifically for large moths (Order Lepidoptera), while yellow and orange light attracted significantly less arthropods. The study indicates a high likelihood that the Hosea Kutako apron lights (white) are an important attractant for arthropods, and therefore indirectly insectivorous birds, which can be reduced by replacing them with orange or yellow filters. Keywords: airport, arthropods, bird strike, phototaxis.

Publication Title:

Applied Ecology and Environmental Research

Volume:
13
Issue:
4
Pages:
957-965
Item Type:
Journal Article
Language:
en

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