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The world’s oceans are teeming with bioluminescence creatures that glow in the deepest depths and light up even the darkest part of the oceans. Many ocean creatures use bioluminescence to catch prey or protect themselves from predators and use it to attract mates. Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. It ...
Mar 17, 2023 · Other sources of bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is common in marine life, such as jellyfish, sharks, crustaceans and fish. However, it can occur on land too, in worms, fireflies and even plant ...
Part of the problem is that bioluminescent organisms are difficult to observe: turning on bright lights can cause mobile animals to move away and may permanently blind light-sensitive sight organs. In addition, transparent and camouflaged organisms may be virtually invisible even with strong lights, and many types of bioluminescence can’t be seen under ordinary visible light.
Animals can closely control when they light up by regulating their chemistry and brain processes depending on their immediate needs, whether a meal or a mate. Some organisms even bundle the luciferin with oxygen in what is called a “photoprotein”—like a pre-packaged bioluminescence bomb—that is ready to light up the moment a certain ion (typically calcium) becomes present.
Marine worms, sea cucumbers, sea stars and many types of phytoplankton also emit light. Bioluminescence involves a chemical reaction inside the animal’s cells. For some animals, those cells are located in a special light organ called a photophore that can look like a spotlight. Other organisms take on a more general glow.
As well as animals, many miniscule plant-like species and fungi can also create bioluminescence. About 75 species of fungi are capable of giving off an eerie, green light, possibly to attract insects which will help to spread their spores. Most of these species live in tropical rainforests. Dinoflagellates make light shows on the surface of the ...
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The image on the left is an in situ photograph of a hormathiid anemone; the image on the right shows the bioluminescent light emitted from the same animal. The emitted light is blue and comes from a mucous secretion. The animal is not actually red, but scientists briefly shined a red LED on it to show the light emission.
