Observations and measurements of planktonic bioluminescence in and around a milky sea

Bioluminescence to reveal structure and interaction of coastal planktonic communities

“…Using this approach for separating dinoflagellates and zooplankton, the total BP over the 9 days was proportioned as 66% and 34%, respectively, similar to previous findings (Lapota et al, 1988;Swift et al, 1995).…”

“…Second, although not apparent in these data, if the communities are thoroughly mixed the ratio will not be able to differentiate between groups. In addition, some dinoflagellate species can be mixotrophic or heterotrophic, but exhibit the same spatial distributions and flash kinetics as autotrophic dinoflagellates (Lapota et al, 1988), making the application of CV as an absolute method of delineating trophic status of a community problematic. Third, the percent of a given phytoplankton or zooplankton community that is bioluminescent has been shown to vary significantly in time and space (Lapota, 1998), making CV as a quantitative measure that is universally applicable improbable.…”

“…Even though larger bioluminescent organisms generally produce more light, in locally stable environments, their numbers are proportionally lower relative to smaller single-celled dino flagellates. The majority of coastal BP scales inversely with the size spectrum, with dinoflagellates generally responsible for the majority of the signal (70-90%; Lapota et al, 1988;Swift et al, 1995).…”

Long Term Dinoflagellate Bioluminescence, Chlorophyll, and Their Environmental Correlates in Southern California Coastal Waters

“…On monthly transits between SDB and SCI an "on-board" sensor system sampled seawater continuously from 3m below the sea surface from a 50m research vessel, the R/V Acoustic Explorer, measuring bioluminescence, seawater temperature, and salinity (Lapota and Losee 1984, Lapota et al 1988, 1989. A vertically deployed bathyphotometer capable of measuring bioluminescence, temperature, salinity, beam attenuation, and chlorophyll fluorescence to a depth of 100m was used at 4 month intervals (summer, fall, winter, spring) at various stations in the Bight to examine the seasonal changes in the biological and physical structure of the water column (Lapota et at.…”

“…While many oceanographic studies have focused on the distribution of bioluminescence in the marine environment (Stukalin 1934, Tarasov 1956, Seliger et al 1961, Clarke and Kelly 1965, Bityukov 1967, Lapota and Losee 1984, Swift et al 1985, Lapota et al 1988, Batchelder and Swift 1989, Lapota et al 1989, Lapota and Rosenberger 1990, Neilson et al 1995, Ondercin et al 1995, Swift et al 1995, little understanding of the seasonality and sources of planktonic bioluminescence in coastal waters and open ocean has emerged. Some previous studies with respect to annual cycles of bioluminescence were severely limited in duration as well as in the methods used to quantify bioluminescence (Bityukov 1967, Tett 1971.…”