Bioluminescence
Life-light
http://unusualseacreatures.blogspot.com/2010/07/anglerfish-anglerfish-is-deep-sea-fish.html
What is Bioluminescence
• When an organism emits light from its
body
– It can be voluntary (on purpose)
– Or involuntary (not on purpurose)
Some organisms that produce
bioluminescence…..
Fireflies
http://beneficialbugs.org/bugs/Firefly/boreal_firefly.htm
Squid!!!
http://seavenger.info/firefly-squid/
Jellyfish
http://www.flickr.com/photos/niallkennedy/4024671197/
Mushrooms!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gusveitch/4407003347/
Many Deep-sea Critters
http://unusualseacreatures.blogspot.com/2010/07/anglerfish-anglerfish-is-deep-sea-fish.html
http://deerdonna.blogspot.com/2011/07/bioluminescent-deep-ocean-creatures.html
Bacteria and Phytoplankton
http://www.flickr.com/photos/msauder/206368807/
Why use bioluminescence?
•
•
•
•
Warning to predators
Camouflage
Navigation
Communication
– Finding mates
• Attract prey
– Angler fish
Camouflage
• Cookiecutter shark - Counterillumination. As this shark
rises closer to the surface, it lights its underside so a predator looking up
from beneath does not see its full silhouette. The shark “disappears”.
Widder
http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc98/8_1_98/fob5.htm
Communication
Attracting Mates
• Atlantic midshipman
http://public.gettysburg.edu
Attract Prey
• Angler fish---the
lighted lure attracts prey.
• Cookiecutter
shark-Since only a small
part of its body is easily
visible, it looks like a smaller
animal—attracting something
that thinks it is going to get a
meal, but instead becomes a
meal for the much larger
shark.
http://unusualseacreatures.blogspot.com/2010/07/anglerfish-anglerfish-is-deep-sea-fish.html ; http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc98/8_1_98/fob5.htm
Widder