Bioluminescent Beings and Their a Brief Background

Pyrocystis fusiformis will biolumenesce for its own survival. It will start to flash when it gets “scared”, which is pretty much any sudden or harsh movement. When the predators of Pyrocystis fusiformis start to graze on the bioluminescence algae it starts to flash brightly. This action spreads through the algae bloom creating a large mass of light in the middle of the ocean. Scientists have come up with some potential reasons for why this happens. In other words, they have a few theories as to how the bioluminescence gives Pyrocystis fusiformis an evolutionary edge. One such theory is that it helps attract lager predators, the ones that eat other predators, not algae. Essentially eliminating the grazers that eat Pyrocystis fusiformis by calling some bigger badder guys. While this might seem like some sort of brilliant idea, or a well thought out plan, it’s actually a complex process of trial and error. This complexity marks the progress and diversity of evolution. Many species are capable of biolumenescing but each have a unique situation in which they use it, or stimulation that causes the chemicals to glow. Here is a short video to help you understand bioluminescence and the diversity of species who have this feature.

Many sea creatures use bioluminescence as a way to hunt, scare off predators or to gain a mate. The full function is not always clear. Here are three examples of biolumenece in sea creatures along with the function of the bioluminescence.

Flashing for Freedom
Hinea brasiliana is a sea snail that bioluminesces when predators come too close. The flashing lights help warn those around of the danger. While this is an amazing feature in and of its self; the small snail has adapted its shell as well. Scientists Dimitri Deheyn and Nerida Wilson noted the shells ability to disperse the light evenly in all directions. In other words, the whole shell becomes a glowing beacon, emitting light in the most efficient way. This is much more advanced than the previous idea of a single beam that would only signal a few other snails. But with the light being dispersed the way it is; it makes Hinea brasiliana appear larger, warning the rest of the group or cluster. A small group of snails, all lit up like glowing orbs, become a large bright mass that scares off would-be predators. Here you can see Dimitri Deheyn talk about these snails and their special shell.

Damn Baby Those are Some Nice Lights
John Sparks and Matthew Davis have looked at the biolumenecens in the Tarletonbeania crenularis and how the population use the function for mating purposes. These small fish have bioluminescence on both their bellies and on the sides of their bodies. While the sections on their bellies are used as camouflage from predators below, the sides have a different function entirely. The smaller lights that run down the sides of each fish helps them spot potential mates. While the light they produce isn’t visible to most fish (used for camouflage not as a beacon) it is visible to those in the same species. This makes communication through bioluminescent flashes a possibility. John and Matthew are still doing research into these functions. The Hatchet Fish or Argyropelecus hemigymnus is similar to Tarletonbeania crenularis in how it uses bioluminescence for camouflage.

Don’t I Just Look Good Enough to Eat?

Many microorganisms live in the deep sea. Some have evolved to become bioluminescent, in doing so they  have increased their chances of being eaten. It is thought that many organisms in the deep sea are photosensitive (sensitive to light) and will be drawn towards anything that glows. Many of these creatures are so interested in the light that they will start trying to eat the source. Being a micro organism creates challenges when it comes to food collection, instead of swimming or propelling oneself, these creatures are left to drift with the currents. By being consumed by a larger creature the micro organisms have a chance to get nutrients from whatever the creature had just eaten before. In a way the micro organisms act like a tapeworm, getting nutrients from the host. Unlike a tapeworm, these micro organisms are quickly passed with the rest of the waste, freeing it to find a new host. Different micro organisms live at different depths and locations, here is a quick video of one of these organisms in action.

Are you hooked? Check out my resources for more information!

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101214201534.htm
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKjFVBVGad0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STIOG95c8-E
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140304095107.htm
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmjflLIB9J4
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070919073007.htm
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd0z7NIjpBM
• https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Pyrocystis_fusiformis
• http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.4319/lo.1976.21.3.0418/asset/lno19762130418.pdf?v=1&t=io0jof29&s=63c80302a00358d93453d9aec91d6ce5eb8d0482&systemMessage=Wiley+Online+Library+will+be+unavailable+on+Saturday+14th+May+11%3A00-14%3A00+BST+%2F+06%3A00-09%3A00+EDT+%2F+18%3A00-21%3A00+SGT+for+essential+maintenance.Apologies+for+the+inconvenience.
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