Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence
 

News: Recently, a group of MTech students noticed something unusual along the coast of Visakhapatnam which was glowing due to a unique natural phenomenon called bioluminescence.
 

What is Bioluminescence?
 Bioluminescence occurs due to the presence of some marine planktons called dinoflagellates that produce light when the water is disturbed. These planktons emit light on the ocean surface at night.
 The dinoflagellates follow a circadian cycle (24-hour cycle) and as a result, this phenomenon occurs during the night which is visible in low light conditions.
 Many marine creatures like sponges, jellyfish, worms, species of fish, anthropods, echinoderms and unicellular alga exhibit bioluminescence to either evade predators, attract prey or during mating.
 In Visakhapanam, this phenomenon is most likely the result of an algal bloom of the dinoflagellate species of noctiluca and ceratium. This occurs when the luciferase enzyme reacts with luciferin compound in the presence of oxygen to produce a cold light.
 

Where else has this phenomenon been observed?
 Havelock Island in the Andamans, Thiruvanmiyur beach in Chennai, Mattu beach in Karnataka and Bangaram Island in Lakshadweep. (Locate the places on your maps as well)
 

What are Planktons?
 Plankton are a group of marine and freshwater organisms that drift along ocean currents because they are too small or weak to swim against them.
 Their name comes from the Greek word planktos which means “wandering.”
 They range in size from 2 micrometers to more than 20 centimeters.
 There are two types of plankton: phytoplankton, which are tiny plants, and zooplankton, which are tiny animals.