It is possible that nighttime lighting has an effect on plant physiology and plant ecosystems. There have been reports on the effects of lighting on the physiology of photosynthesis and growth and biological seasons, effects on bud formation in short day plants and long day plants, effects on pollinating insects, and so on. It has been confirmed that artificial lighting has different effects on different species of roadside plants in urban areas. Therefore, it is desirable that nighttime lighting installations be set up at appropriate locations and that various other factors, depending upon the plant species, such as the wavelength and intensity of the light, the season and time of lighting, and so on are adequately considered. Ecosystems Many points concerning the impact of nighttime lighting on entire ecosystems, including wild plants and animals, remain unclear so future research in this subject is being keenly anticipated.
Rice is short day plant and rice ear formation is delayed by nighttime light.
Livestock It is conceivable that inappropriate outdoor lighting may have a variety of effects on livestock, such as the disruption of physiological and metabolic functions of livestock and poultry, a decrease in production capacity, and abnormal behavior in the animals. When it is anticipated that lighting close to an observatory will affect astronomical observations, measures which will prevent this from occurring should be adopted. It is feared that outdoor lighting, such as road and street lights, which shine into dwellings will have a deleterious effect on the privacy and restful sleeping of residents. It is desirable to decrease the illuminance of the window surface as much as possible. Measures to ensure this include studying the height and location of lighting fixtures as well as installing shades and louvers on light fixtures to control the spatial distribution of the luminous intensity.