Bioluminescence of deep-sea coronate medusae (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)

Herring, Peter J.; Widder, Edith A.

doi:10.1007/s00227-004-1430-7

Cited by 30 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Rhizostome species are not known to be luminescent. Scyphozoans were among the first bioluminescent animals recorded in the literature, dating back to Pliny the Elder in the first century A.D. Periphylla, Atolla, and other coronates produce cascading waves of light and can also exude luminous particles (Herring & Widder 2004).…”

Section: Cnidariansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioluminescence in the Sea

Haddock

Moline

Case

2010

Annu. Rev. Mar. Sci.

706

766

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Bioluminescence spans all oceanic dimensions and has evolved many times--from bacteria to fish--to powerfully influence behavioral and ecosystem dynamics. New methods and technology have brought great advances in understanding of the molecular basis of bioluminescence, its physiological control, and its significance in marine communities. Novel tools derived from understanding the chemistry of natural light-producing molecules have led to countless valuable applications, culminating recently in a related Nobel Prize. Marine organisms utilize bioluminescence for vital functions ranging from defense to reproduction. To understand these interactions and the distributions of luminous organisms, new instruments and platforms allow observations on individual to oceanographic scales. This review explores recent advances, including the chemical and molecular, phylogenetic and functional, community and oceanographic aspects of bioluminescence.

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Section: Cnidariansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioluminescence in the Sea

Haddock

Moline

Case

2010

Annu. Rev. Mar. Sci.

706

766

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“…Bioluminescent aposematism has been experimentally demonstrated in some terrestrial invertebrates2526, and suggested for a number of marine animals including cnidarians27, molluscs28, annelids29, crustaceans30, echinoderms31 and teleost fish32; this, however, is the first suggestion of this behaviour in a cartilaginous fish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Transmission of bioluminescent signals by mineralized structures, such as the spines of the velvet belly lanternshark, are rare in nature, having only been observed in several organisms including opisthoproctid fishes33 and a marine snail ( Hinea brasiliana )27. Further examination of E. spinax 's spines may provide insights into evolutionary co-opting of structural biomaterials for optic functions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A deepwater fish with ‘lightsabers’ – dorsal spine-associated luminescence in a counterilluminating lanternshark

Claes

Dean

Nilsson

et al. 2013

Sci Rep

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We report the discovery of light organs (photophores) adjacent to the dorsal defensive spines of a small deep-sea lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax). Using a visual modeling based on in vivo luminescence recordings we show that this unusual light display would be detectable by the shark's potential predators from several meters away. We also demonstrate that the luminescence from the spine-associated photophores (SAPs) can be seen through the mineralized spines, which are partially translucent. These results suggest that the SAPs function, either by mimicking the spines' shape or by shining through them, as a unique visual deterrent for predators. This conspicuous dorsal warning display is a surprising complement to the ventral luminous camouflage (counterillumination) of the shark.

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“…Although they are abundant shallow, they are not a significant portion when considering the water-column as a whole. Deeper, the most abundant scyphozoans are coronate medusae which have been shown to have dramatic bioluminescent displays36. It will be very interesting in the future to examine the bioluminescent capabilities of the recently discovered deep Ulmaridae (Scyphozoa), relatives of the moon jellies, such as Tiburonia 37, Deepstaria , and Stellamedusa 38.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of bioluminescence from the surface to the deep sea demonstrates its predominance as an ecological trait

Martini

Haddock

2017

Sci Rep

100

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The capability of animals to emit light, called bioluminescence, is considered to be a major factor in ecological interactions. Because it occurs across diverse taxa, measurements of bioluminescence can be powerful to detect and quantify organisms in the ocean. In this study, 17 years of video observations were recorded by remotely operated vehicles during surveys off the California Coast, from the surface down to 3,900 m depth. More than 350,000 observations are classified for their bioluminescence capability based on literature descriptions. The organisms represented 553 phylogenetic concepts (species, genera or families, at the most precise taxonomic level defined from the images), distributed within 13 broader taxonomic categories. The importance of bioluminescent marine taxa is highlighted in the water column, as we showed that 76% of the observed individuals have bioluminescence capability. More than 97% of Cnidarians were bioluminescent, and 9 of the 13 taxonomic categories were found to be bioluminescent dominant. The percentage of bioluminescent animals is remarkably uniform over depth. Moreover, the proportion of bioluminescent and non-bioluminescent animals within taxonomic groups changes with depth for Ctenophora, Scyphozoa, Chaetognatha, and Crustacea. Given these results, bioluminescence has to be considered an important ecological trait from the surface to the deep-sea.

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Bioluminescence of deep-sea coronate medusae (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)

Cited by 30 publications

References 31 publications

Bioluminescence in the Sea

Bioluminescence in the Sea

A deepwater fish with ‘lightsabers’ – dorsal spine-associated luminescence in a counterilluminating lanternshark

Quantification of bioluminescence from the surface to the deep sea demonstrates its predominance as an ecological trait

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