display bioluminescence – Do you know that Nature has its own glow at night? If you switch off all the lights at night and walk in the garden, you might just see tiny flashes of light from insects called fireflies! Many animals, especially those in the deep ocean, can create their own light to attract prey or a mate, defend themselves or for camouflage. This is called bioluminescence. 1.
Most animals that display bioluminescence rely on the dance of two unique chemicals. Luciferase, an enzyme, enables luciferin to react with oxygen and release energy in the form of light.
2. About 76% of all marine animals are bioluminescent but not freshwater animals. Only the freshwater snail (Latia neritoides) found in the streams of New Zealand releases a glowing slime when bothered.
3. In September, the beaches of Goa or Maharashtra offer a spectacular show by marine microorganisms called dinoflagellates.
Millions of dinoflagellates create a beautiful shimmery effect when the ocean water moves and strikes the rocks and sandy beach at night. Movement stimulates them, so if you run your hand in the water, it will look like it’s glowing! 4.
Some animals like the angler fish and squid do not use luciferase and luciferin. Instead, they grow bioluminescent bacteria in special organs.
In this symbiotic relationship, the bacteria provide light while the marine animal provides them nutrition and protection. 5. Bioluminescence is a “cold light”, which means that the light generated does not produce heat.
6. Some insects, such as the larvae of the railroad worm, a North American beetle, display a multicoloured glow. The head glows red and its body glows green; just like a traffic signal.
7. The vampire squid has a peculiar defence mechanism.
When threatened, it squirts a cloud of glowing mucus into its attacker’s face and then swims away! 8. In the dense forests of the Western Ghats, a type of fungi called Mycena lights up the forest floor and tree trunks with what is called “foxfire”. It is thought that these fungi glow to attract insects to spread their spores or to warn away predators.
9. During World War I, soldiers used glow worms to read important messages or maps in the dark without giving their position away.
10. Today, a new phenomenon called “light pollution” is disrupting Nature’s glow.
With the development of LED, solar, and bright street lights, our nights are getting brighter. Most animals that produce bioluminescence rely on the cycle of day and night and do not display bioluminescence without complete darkness.