How does light pollution impact ecosystems?

Light pollution significantly affects ecosystems, particularly by disrupting the natural behaviors of nocturnal animals. Many species depend on natural light cues for their activities, such as hunting, mating, and navigation. Artificial light can interfere with these processes, causing animals to alter their behavior. For instance, predators might find it easier to hunt in artificially lit environments, while prey may become confused and less able to escape from their predators. Additionally, artificial light can disrupt migratory patterns and breeding cycles, ultimately threatening the survival of some species.

The other choices do not accurately represent the effects of light pollution. Enhancing the growth of plants at night does not reflect the challenges that artificial lighting poses to ecosystems, and while light pollution does not increase the number of visible stars in the sky, it often leads to the opposite effect, as bright artificial lights drown out starlight. Lastly, the claim that light pollution has no impact on ecosystems overlooks the significant disruptions it causes to numerous animal behaviors and ecological interactions.