Observations on luminescence in pelagic animals

Abstract

Luminescence is very common among marine animals, and many species possess highly developed photophores or light-emitting organs. It is probable, therefore, that luminescence plays an important part in the economy of their lives. A few determinations of the spectral composition and intensity of light emitted by marine animals are available (Coblentz & Hughes, 1926; Eymers & van Schouwenburg, 1937; Clarke & Backus, 1956; Kampa & Boden, 1957; Nicol, 1957b, c, 1958a, b). More data of this kind are desirable in order to estimate the visual efficiency of luminescence, distances at which luminescence can be perceived, the contribution it makes to general back-ground illumination, etc. With such information it should be possible to discuss more profitably such biological problems as the role of luminescence in intraspecific signalling, sex recognition, swarming, and attraction or repulsion between species. As a contribution to this field I have measured the intensities of light emitted by some pelagic species of animals.

Adaptations to the Deep-Sea Environment

“…Measurements of threshold for vision in deep-sea fishes have not been carried out directly, but values based on human vision have been derived by DENTON and WARREN (1957), NICOL (1958, 1962), and CLARKE and DENTON (1962. BODEN and KAMPA (1974) approach the problem indirectly by considering the populations of animals in the sonic scattering layers.…”

The Occurrence of Dinoflagellate Luminescence at Woods Hole

“…(Taylor et al, 1966;Hastings and Sweeney, 1958;Swift and Taylor, 1967). Noctiluca scintillans has a similar light output but its spectrum was not as accurately measured (Nicol, 1958). The spectral differences between these species are very slight and can probably be attributed to differences in technique.…”

“…Light transmission of most offshore sea water is at a maximum between 470 and 480 nM., i.e., daylight at depths below about 10 or 20 M. is blue (Jerlov and Koczy, 1951). The luminescence and maximal visual sensitivity of other marine organisms are usually in a similar color range (Nicol, 1958) although the biochemical mechanisms of their luminescence certainly differ. Although McElroy and Seliger (1962) suggest a purely biochemical function, these spectral similarities seem to suggest an adaptation of the luminescence of marine organisms to the blue maximum transparency of sea water or to the blue sensitivity of marine animals' eyes.…”

“…O Noctiluca scintillans(Nicol, 1958); 3 Pyrodinium bahamense(Taylor et al, 1966); ? Gonyaulax polyedra acetone extract(Hastings and Sweeney, 1957); A Pyrocystis lunula "cysts"(Swift and Taylor, 1967).…”

The first evidence of intrinsic epidermal bioluminescence within ray‐finned fishes in the linebelly swallower Pseudoscopelus sagamianus (Chiasmodontidae)

“…Cases where the bioluminescent bacteria are primarily intracellular are not known in fishes (Labella et al ., ). Intrinsic bioluminescence evolved in a more diverse range of tissues of origin, including muscle (Johnston & Herring, ; Merrett et al ., ), the hepatopancreas (Ghedotti et al ., ), the intestine (Herring, ) and the dermis (Hansen & Herring, ; Lawry, ; Mallefet et al ., ; Nichol, , ; Poulsen, ). In a few clades of fishes, the anatomical basis of their bioluminescence has not been established (Davis et al ., ).…”