Help! Artificial lights needed!

[liz103]

I am doing a project on the effect of artificial light on bat activity for my masters project. However, I am finding it really difficult to find my artifical light source. It needs to be powered by battery and able to be elevated (so not too big or heavy), and preferably not too expensive!

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, or maybe a link or two to some useful information.

Thanks,
Liz

[thunder]

How large an area do you need to light, and how brightly, and for how long?

henrya

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by liz103

I am doing a project on the effect of artificial light on bat activity for my masters project. However, I am finding it really difficult to find my artifical light source. It needs to be powered by battery and able to be elevated (so not too big or heavy), and preferably not too expensive!

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, or maybe a link or two to some useful information.

Thanks,
Liz

I'd look at the mercury vapour type lights which are supposed to have te biggest impact on insects. They are tha main componant for a moth trap - although where excactly to get the lights I'm not sure.

Obviously you know not to erect this light anywhere near a bat roost - roost being protected from disturbance? - I believe the interpretation of what is disturbance to a roost has been extended to main commuting routes too now so you might want to consider that too

[liz103]

Nope, nowhere near a roost!
The size of light could maybe be as large as a streetlamp (although after looking into this I find that one can buy them but they can only be powered by mains electricity), but the size I would need to illuminate won't be able to be very large for practical reasons, only a very localised area where I am with my detector. As for the amount of time, I will need to be collecting data for a few hours each night, however the amount of time the light is needed to be in place before data collection is still to be determined with my supervisor.
Its all a bit crude at this stage, but becasue it's not PHd I'll just have to muddle through!
Thanks again,
Liz

[thunder]

Presumably you need something portable - is there no chance of running a mains lead to your study site?

henrya

[liz103]

Definately portable! i am going to have to move it around quite a bit so i guess it also has to be quite robust.