Bioluminescence By Jackie ORiley What is bioluminescence Bio

Bioluminescence By Jackie O’Riley

What is bioluminescence? Ø Bio = life, Luminescence = light Ø The production of light by an organism Ø Happens in a special organ on the body called a photophore http: //www. news. cornell. edu Herring, P. J.

These organs can occur: Ø In the skin Ø In muscle on underside of body Ø In the abdomen (belly) Ø Attached to tentacles and barbels Mitchell 2000

Light is produced by a chemical reaction Ø Just like baking! Ø Add ingredients Ø Add energy source with an enzyme Ø Get products that are different than the ingredients

Luciferin + oxygen → light + byproducts • Ingredients: – Luciferin- a substance that produces light – Oxygen- reaction must happen in the presence of oxygen

Luciferin + oxygen → light + byproducts • Energy Source – ATP- molecules made by cells that store energy –Enzyme- substance that increases the rate of the reaction

Luciferin + oxygen → light + byproducts • Product – Light!!! • No heat produced. Unlike other types of light we know: • The sun • Light bulbs

What organisms are bioluminescent? • Insects – Fireflies • Fungi • Bacteria • Fish! Mc. Kee 2001 Hasting, year unknown

Where do fish get the luciferin? • Possibly make it in their bodies • Some get it from their diet • Some use bacteria to produce light!

Symbiotic Bacterial Bioluminescence • Fish house a colony of bioluminescent bacteria in a special organ on their body • Symbiotic = both organisms profit – Fish gains a light source – Bacteria have a nice safe home Hasting, year unknown

Examples • Anglerfish – Esca Image. Quest 2002

Flashlight Fish Herring 2001

Where in the ocean does bioluminescence occur? • Everywhere: – – Coastal Shallow Mid-water Deep water Herring 1990

Colors • Most bioluminescence blue • Some exceptions http: //csep 10. phys. utk. edu http: //www. schools. net

Why do fish use bioluminescence? • For many reasons!! – Concealment (Hiding) – Mating – Schooling – Scaring predators – Searchlight – Luring prey

Concealment • Think of environment fish lives in! • Counter-shading (like this shark!) • Counter-illumination – Photophores on belly – Makes fish hard to see from below Jeremy Stafford-Dietsch

Interesting use of concealment • Cookie-cutter shark – Photophores on belly – Dark band under jaw S. Humphreys

Cookie-cutter shark E. Widder

Mating • Midshipman displays light during courtship http: //www. news. cornell. edu http: //www. thejump

Recognizing a Mate Green Lantern Sharks • Different patterns of photophores on male and female http: //www. elasmo-research. org

Schooling • Bioluminescence may help with schooling http: //www. cdislands. com

Scare Predators • Flash light to startle predators http: //images. google. com/imgres

Use as Searchlight • Other uses • Control Flashlight fish Herring 2001 http: //www. bioscienceexplained. org/EN 1. 1/flashlight. html J. Hastings

Red Searchlight • Black loosejaw • Other fish can’t see it http: //www. lifesci. ucsb. edu/~biolum/ Herring 2002

Luring prey • Anglerfish Gulper eel http: //images. google. com/imgres Image. Quest 2002 Viperfish Image. Quest 2002

To Review • Fish either produce own light in photophores or keep bioluminescent bacteria in organs on body • Light is produced by a chemical reaction • Most bioluminescence is blue • Used for many reasons: concealment, communication, searchlight, luring prey