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Ana Lívia de Castro Severo de Oliveira and Emma Despland
Tracking Twinkles: Fireflies as Indicators of Urban Greenspace Quality
Fireflies are valuable bioindicators of urban greenspaces due to their sensitivity to artificial light and preference for less urbanized, wooded areas. Their presence often signals a well-managed, biodiverse environment. In the summer of 2024, we conducted a community science project exploring the relationship between environmental factors and firefly abundance. We measured canopy cover, artificial light, organic matter, water presence, land use type, and vegetation height. By September 2024, we received 100 responses through our online form and selected 86 within the Montreal area for analysis. Fisher’s Exact Test revealed significant associations between firefly abundance, land use type, artificial light, and organic matter. No significant links were found with water presence, vegetation height, or canopy cover. These results indicate that fireflies are broadly distributed across diverse urban habitats. The findings also underscore the importance of maintaining organic matter and reducing light pollution to support urban biodiversity. Data collection will continue in the coming summer to deepen our understanding of firefly populations in Montreal.
