Have you heard about the natural ocean wonder of bioluminescence? This beautiful sight is definitely one for the bucket list. The ocean can glow and glitter like the stars in the sky thanks to a natural chemical process known as bioluminescence, which allows living things to produce light in their body.
Marine creatures like some fish, squid, tiny crustaceans and algae produce bioluminescence to either confuse predators, attract prey or even lure potential mates. We humans can witness this natural phenomenon when there is lots of bioluminescence in the water, usually from an algae bloom of plankton. Algae bloom sea sparkle events are caused by calm and warm sea conditions.
The researchers had expected increased bioluminescence to result in reduced grazing by copepods. But they were surprised by just how great the reduction was.
The second is that the flash of bioluminescence behaves like a flash-bang and startles the copepod, provoking a copepod escape response or disorienting it long enough for the dinoflagellate to escape. The third theory suggests that the flash acts as a form of burglar alarm, attracting the attention of a larger visual predator, like a fish, which could track and consume the copepod.
There is evidence to support each of these theories and bioluminescence protection could be combinations of some or all of the above. No matter how it works, it appears their ability to ward off predators with bioluminescence serves as a key mechanism behind the success of an otherwise poor competitor such as L.
They say that they plan to pursue more studies in the system exploring the ways that the "fear" of being eaten drives the structure of ecosystems. They plan to study compounds produced by copepods as general alarm signals and their influence on complex plankton assemblages. Materials provided by Cell Press.
Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Science News. Luckily, most of the locations where the plankton appear also make good holiday destinations. The Maldives is famous for shining white beaches and teeming marine life and almost every island is visited by glowing plankton. High season for spotting the plankton is mid-summer through to winter but it can appear at any time.
San Diego is another place where locals and holidaymakers report seeing the waves glow as they break on the shore or shine as a surfboard cuts through a wake. Other countries that have reported sightings of bioluminescent plankton are Australia , Vietnam , Thailand , Puerto Rico and Jamaica. Marine wildlife photojournalist Doug Perrine , has been lucky enough to witness the phenomenon several times. He recounts the time he saw bio-luminesce in the autumn of in the Maldives.
Mouth-watering smells wafted off the portable grill as the crew set up a portable dinner table on the beach. Our safari boat drifted lazily at anchor offshore. For the next few hours we passengers had this Robinson Crusoe island to ourselves. A fiery sunset was illuminating the sky, and a luscious feast was in preparation. What could be better? I was about to find out! As the last embers of the crimson sunset faded away, a most remarkable scene, supernatural in appearance, began to reveal itself.
The gentle surges of water lapping up against the shoreline were glowing with an eerie turquoise radiance, dotted with bright specks of light, much like the stars that were just starting to light up overhead. Every movement of the water excited the source of the illumination.
When I strolled along the waterline to investigate, each step left a glowing footprint in its wake. I could lift my foot and point the sole forward to use as a torch! With a finger, I could trace messages in shining letters in the sand.
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