This document provides an overview of bioluminescence in the ocean. It discusses how bioluminescence is produced through a chemical reaction within organisms, and how it is widespread among deep sea and planktonic organisms where sunlight is scarce. Many types of organisms exhibit bioluminescence, including bacteria, jellyfish, worms, crustaceans, fish and some sharks. Bioluminescence serves purposes like communication, camouflage, defense and attracting mates. It can also indicate harmful algal blooms. The document outlines uses of bioluminescence in fields like art, research and biotechnology including lighting and medical applications.

1. Bioluminescence in ocean
1
S.Saruga
BSc in Fisheries Science,
University Of Jaffna,
Sri Lanka.

2. Over view
 Introduction
 Chemistry of bioluminescence
 Colour of bioluminescence
 Uses of bioluminescence in nature
 Bioluminescence and Harmful Algal Bloom Detection
 Uses of bioluminescence to human
 Uses of bioluminescent in Biotechnology
 Examining the bioluminescence
 Conclusion
 References 2

3. Production and emission of light by a chemical reaction within a living organism
Cold light- less than 20% of the light generates thermal radiation, or heat
Bioluminescence on land and in freshwater is rare compared to its occurrence in
the ocean
In the deep ocean 90% of the animals are luminescent
Higher in deep-living and planktonic organisms
Produced by the organisms themselves and by bacterial symbionts
3

4. Why are so many animals in the ocean
bioluminescent?
 Sunlight is dim or absent an alternative way to communicate using light
 No concealment hide in the wide open
 Bioluminescence is effective is vast allowing natural selection
4

5. What are some of the different animals that make light?
(Bioluminescent)
Many different types of organisms
Microscopic cells to fish and even a few sharks
No higher vertebrates above the fish
5

6.  Bacteria
 Radiolaria
 Dinoflagellates
 Fungi
 Coelenterates and Ctenophores (jellyfish): siphonophores, medusae, soft corals,
(comb jellies)
6

7.  Gastropods: nudibranchs (rare), clams (rare),squids, octopus (rare)
 Annelids (worms): polychaetes (bristle worms), earthworms
 Marine crustaceans: mysids (rare), copepods, ostracods (firefleas), amphipods,
krill, shrimp
 Insects: beetles (fireflies, glowworms), flies (rare), centipedes (rare), millipedes
(rare)
7

8.  Echinoderms: sealilies, seastars, brittlestars, sea cucumbers
 Tunicates: pyrosomes, larvaceans
 Sharks (rare)
 Fishes – many different types
8

9. • Dinoflagellates are the most commonly encountered bioluminescent
organism
• Cause the sparkling lights
• Sailors, swimmers, and beachgoers
• “Bioluminescent bays” which are tourist destinations in Puerto Rico
and Jamaica
• Comb jellies- 90%
9

10. • In some cases, it is hard to establish that a species is nonluminous
• Among filter-feeding organisms, reports of luminescence are hard to confirm
• It is difficult, to separate the organism from associated and ingested protists and
microbes
10

11.  Result of energy released during a chemical reaction
 Two unique chemicals
 Luciferin and either luciferase or photoprotein
 Reaction is the oxidation of a light-emitting molecule, a luciferin
 The reaction rate for the luciferin is controlled by an enzyme
 A luciferase or a photoprotein
11

12.  Photoproteins are triggered to produce light upon binding another ion or
cofactor, such as Ca2+ or Mg2+ and ATP
 Synthesize luciferin on their own
 Many marine animals
 Do not synthesize luciferin
 Absorb, either as food or in a symbiotic relationship
 The bacteria and squid
12

13. Examples of fish that have bacterial photophores
 Angler fish
 Pinecone fish
 Lantern eyes/flashlight fish
 Pony fishes
 Ichthyococcus
13

14. Colour of bioluminescence
• Bioluminescence does come in different colors
• Depending on the habitat and organism
• Blue-green easily visible in the deep ocean
• Sensitive only to blue-green colors
• Most animals in the ocean cannot see red light
• Black loosejaw -red light
14

15. Uses of bioluminescence in nature
1) Finding or attract the prey
 Use their light to lure prey towards their mouths
 Angler fish
15

16. Dragonfish/loosejaws
Emit red light
16

17. 2) Defense/ Protection
Squid and shrimp produce a luminescent glowing cloud
Similar in function to the ink cloud
17

18. Scale worms and brittle stars sacrifice a part of the body
 That continues to flash
Some species of sea cucumber can break off the luminescent parts of their
bodies onto nearby fish
18

19.  Some squid and fish species are camouflage by counter illumination
bioluminescence
 Their bioluminescence matches the color and brightness of the dim sunlight
 Called luminescent countershading
 Hatchet fish - light producing organs that point downward
 Adjusting their bioluminescence
19

20.  Some animals use their bioluminescence to "scream" for help
 Once an animal is caught in the clutches of a predator, its only hope for escape
may be to attract the attention of something bigger and nastier that may attack
and eat whatever is about to eat it
 This amazing light show is known as a "burglar alarm" display
 The deep-sea jellyfish- Atolla , is a master of this display
20

21. 3) Attracting Mates
 The male Caribbean ostracod, a tiny crustacean, uses bioluminescent signals on
its upper lips to attract females
 Syllid fireworms use bioluminescence to attract males while moving around in
circles
 Anglerfish, flashlight fish and ponyfish all are thought to luminesce in order to
tell the difference between males and females
 Or communicate in order to mate
21

22. 22

23. 4)Other Bioluminescence
 Organisms can luminesce when they are disturbed
 Changes in the environment, such as a drop in salinity, can force
bioluminescent algae to glow, for instance
 These living lanterns can be seen as spots of pink or green in the dark ocean
23

24. • "Milky seas"
• Which flash when their environment is disturbed, milky seas are continuous
glows(Dinoflagellate:-Noctiluca scintillans)
• Sometimes bright and large enough to be visible from satellites in orbit above
the Earth
24

25. • Many small planktonic surface dwellers—such as single-celled dinoflagellates—
are bioluminescent
• When conditions are right, dinoflagellates bloom in dense layers at the surface of
the water,
• Causing the ocean to take on a reddish-brown color in daylight ( known as
red tide)
25

26. Bioluminescence and Harmful Algal Bloom Detection
 Marine both toxic and bioluminescent species occurring across the globe
 Particularly in Sea of Japan, Aegean Sea, Baltic Sea and Black Sea
 When the dinoflagellates are poisonous to other animals, these events are
called harmful algal blooms (HABs)
 Through feeding/food chain, it affect marine mammals or people
 It can cause sickness or even death
26

27. Uses of bioluminescence to human
 For humans, the beautiful colors and light that are produced by bioluminescence
can be works of art
 Some artists use the bacteria itself to create line drawings or entire exhibits with
petri dishes
 Used as a tool by researchers
 Edie Widder, a scientist who specializes in bioluminescence
o A live giant squid was captured by her for the first time on film in 2012!
27

28. Uses of bioluminescent in Biotechnology
Environmental monitoring
Remedial investigations
Toxicity assessments and
Field methods
28

29. 1) Biology and medicine
Monitoring of biological processes (e.g. gene expression, protein–protein
interaction and disease progression) with clinical, diagnostic and drug discovery
applications
Biomedical research using bioluminescence imaging
Bioluminescent activated destruction is an experimental cancer treatment
29

30. 2)Light production
 Industrial designers
 University of Wisconsin–Madison is researching the use of genetically
engineered bioluminescent E. coli bacteria, for use as bioluminescent bacteria in
a light bulb
 In 2016, Glowee, a French company started selling bioluminescent lights
 They used bacteria called Aliivibrio fischeri which glow in the dark but the
maximum lifetime of their product was three days
30

31. Underwater Bioluminescence Assessment Tool (UBAT)
 It is designed to provide measurement of mechanically stimulated
bioluminescence potential (photons)
 UBAT is a small, light-weight bioluminescence sensor designed for deployment
on multiple platforms such as ship-board profiles, Autonomous Underwater
Vehicles (AUVs) and long-term deployment on moorings
 By measuring the bioluminescence, it provide a more complete picture of
spatial and temporal variability of the biogeochemical complexity of coastal and
ocean ecosystems 31

32. a) b)
Figure :-(a)Bioluminescence sections measured via an autonomous underwater vehicle
(b)Taking samples while underway on board an autonomous underwater vehicle
32

33. Conclusion
 Tool in marine ecosystem
 Mechanisms of luciferin biosynthesis are almost entirely unknown
 The question of why so many animals are bioluminescent still does not have a satisfactory
answer
 Improvements in remote and automated methods of detecting oceanographic-scale
bioluminescence (satellites and bathyphotometers) will allow better understanding of marine
ecosystem dynamics, harmful algal blooms, and how and why plankton populations
fluctuate over time.
 In order to minimize energy consumption and pollution,in future,can use bioluminescent
light
33

34. References
Brejc, K. et al. (1997) Structural basis for the dual excitation and photoisomerization of the Aequorea
victoria green fluorescent protein. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 94, 2306
Haddock S.H.D. Moline M.A. and Case J.F. (2010)Bioluminescence in the sea. Ann. Rev. Marine Sci. 2:293-
343.
Hastings J.W.( 1983) Biological diversity, chemical mechanisms, and the evolutionary origins of
bioluminescent systems. J. Mol. Evol. 19, p309.
Herring , P.J. (1987) Systematic distribution of bioluminescence in living organisms. Journal of
Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence 1, 147–163.
McCapra F, Hart R. (1980 )The origins of marine bioluminescence Nature 286. 660-1. Bioluminescence (EB,
190313549).
34

35. Thank You
35