Different forms of luciferin can produce different colors of light. Fireflies, for example, have a form of luciferin in their cells that emit green light, whereas marine organisms like the dinoflagellates found around the shores of the San Francisco Bay emit blue light.
Why do some organisms produce bioluminescence?
Some species of bioluminescent sea creatures, like some jellyfish, have evolved to become bioluminescent due to their diet. When they eat other bioluminescent organisms, they borrow that chemical that allows them to produce light within their bodies.
Other sea creatures, like angler fish that have that ball of light that glows and lures in prey, and flashes light to repel predators, get their bioluminescence from a certain bacteria called photobacterium.
“And the standard rule of thumb is that, what glows in the ocean attracts and what flashes repel,” said Steve Haddock, a senior scientist at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute who researches bioluminescence organisms. He also runs a citizen science website, JellyWatch.org.
Bioluminescence is a terrific deterrent against predators that would eat these organisms. It also functions like a flashlight for finding and attracting prey. Some organisms use their glowing abilities as camouflage — they turn light on to block out their silhouette, a kind of cloaking device — hiding them from potential predators.
What are dinoflagellates? And how are they related to red tides?
Dinoflagellates are single-celled phytoplankton that are usually invisible to the naked eye. But when they are present in high numbers, they can turn the water a hazy green or even orange, depending on the pigments present in cells of that species. When left alone, dinoflagellates won’t produce any light, but when things like ocean waves, wind, and sea creatures disturb them at night, they become bioluminescent, dazzling with a blue light.
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August 10, 2023 at 09:30PM
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Glittering Tides: Where to Spot Bioluminescence in the Bay Area - KQED
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