Observations of in situ deep-sea marine bioluminescence with a high-speed, high-resolution sCMOS camera

Abstract

Observing and measuring marine bioluminescence in situ presents unique challenges, characterized by the difficult task of approaching and imaging weakly illuminated bodies in a three-dimensional environment. To address this problem, a scientific complementarymetal-oxide-semiconductor (sCMOS) microscopy camera was outfitted for deep-sea imaging of marine bioluminescence. This system was deployed on multiple platforms (manned submersible, remotely operated vehicle, and towed body) in three oceanic regions (Western Tropical Pacific, Eastern Equatorial Pacific, and Northwestern Atlantic) to depths up to 2500 m. Using light stimulation, bioluminescent responses were recorded at high frame rates and in high resolution, offering unprecedented low-light imagery of deepsea bioluminescence in situ. The kinematics of light production in several zooplankton groups was observed, and luminescent responses at different depths were quantified as intensity vs. time. These initial results signify a clear advancement in the bioluminescent imaging methods available for observation and experimentation in the deep-sea. Keywords: Bioluminescence, zooplankton, sCMOS, low-light camera, light stimulation 1. Introduction 33 34 Marine bioluminescence has generated increasing interest among the scientific community in 35 the past several decades, spanning the disciplines of comparative biology (e.g. Haddock and Case 36 1999), biochemistry (e.g. Prasher et al. 1992), physiology (e.g. Contag and Bachmann 2002), 37 neuroscience (e.g. Martin 2008), population dynamics (e.g. Moline et al. 2009), and naval applications 38 (e.g. Fucile 2002). This research began with terrestrial fireflies (Green and McElroy 1956) and later 39 expanded to readily accessible marine organisms, most notably bacteria (Bassler et al. 1993; Surette 40 et al 1999), copepods (Campbell and Herring 1990), and cnidarians (Prasher et al. 1985). Whereas 41 almost all major phyla of deep-sea zooplankton exhibit bioluminescence (Haddock et al. 2010), with 42 new discoveries reported annually, only a handful of studies have been published on in situ marine 43 bioluminescence. As a result, the deep-sea offers vast potential for future multidisciplinary 44 discoveries related to bioluminescence. 45

Behavioural responses of the yellow emitting annelid Tomopteris helgolandica to photic stimuli

“…Although rarely observed in the laboratory, light emissions could occur in response to rough handling (pinching, emersion from the sea water using a dipnet). Similarly to what was observed from in situ recordings, the emission was initiated in the first parapodia and travelled backward. The intensity rapidly decreased and ended after a few seconds.…”

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

“…Several studies measuring bioluminescence intensity using bathyphotometers42, or high sensitivity video cameras434445 found a decrease in the bioluminescence intensity recorded with depth. One important implication of our results is that if the proportion of bioluminescent organisms remains stable over depth, as we found, then such decreases are principally related to the decrease of biomass (Fig.…”

Inertial bioluminescence rhythms at the Capo Passero (KM3NeT-Italia) site, Central Mediterranean Sea

“…18, and these may have been present in greater concentrations at increasing altitude above the seafloor. In the future, additional information could be obtained from neutrino telescopes about individual bioluminescent flashes and their probable source if they were instrumented with cameras capable of imaging individual flashes, such as the ICDeep50, LuSEApher52 or sCMOS53 cameras.…”