The Florida Keys are one of the best places to witness a sunset fill the sky with pink, orange, red, yellow and every shade in between. The horizon fills with light and warmth as the sun sinks beneath the vast open waters that surround the Keys. As time passes by, something spectacular happens when the sunset fades into night; the universe opens up above us and infinite stars twinkle just out of reach. On a moonless night we see the most; stars, planets, and the Milky-Way all mesmerizing in their own right. The night, however, has more to offer than the stars.
Imagine taking that universe of stars into your hand and releasing it into the ocean. That image in your mind, well that’s a reality in special places all around the world.
Bioluminescence or “life light” is a phenomenon that has captivated human imagination for thousands of years and we are just now breaking the surface of our understanding of what bioluminescence really is. Unlike the sun, the moon or even the light from our computer screens bioluminescence is unique because it is created by life. Through a chemical reaction that in many cases leads to a luminous blue-green flash of light. Light produced by a chemical reaction is called chemiluminescence and for many organisms, this reaction causes amazing displays of color and illumination.
How it Works
In order for light to be produced from chemical reactions, first there needs to be a substrate and an enzyme, otherwise known as a chemical and a catalyst. For bioluminescence the chemical is luciferin and the catalyst is luciferase. The luciferin is what produces the light and the luciferase is what causes the reaction to begin. Amazingly, luciferin has developed independently over thousands of years in many different organisms, which helps show just how important light is to life. Hundreds of species from bacteria, phytoplankton, jellyfish, squid, and deep-sea fish all have developed the need and ability to create light. But why?
Adaptations are the ability of organisms including humans to make changes to deal with their environment more effectively. Just like how we adapt to changing weather, organisms, over time, adapt and find the best ways to survive. Bioluminescence can serve many purposes; it can help them escape predation, it can attract prey, it can serve as a form of communication and it can attract a mate.
Why it matters
Scattered all over the world are unique habitats that emit life light. Some of the most famous being bioluminescent bays in Vieques/Mosquito Lagoon-Puerto Rico, Indian River Lagoon-Florida, Mission Bay-San Diego, Halong Bay, Vietnam and Luminous Lagoon- Jamaica. These locations are well known and well-traveled. Eco-tourism companies are taking advantage of these beautiful ecosystems by allowing visitors to kayak across the lagoons and see the water light up for themselves. Only a handful of places on the globe are known to show this amazing spectacle but bioluminescence can be found throughout the ocean both at the surface and at depth.
All of these locations have something in common, the presence of bioluminescent microscopic organisms. Unseen to the naked eye unless under a starry sky or microscope there are two organisms that lead to glistening seas. Ostracods are microscopic crustaceans and dinoflagellates are photosynthetic and thus contribute to global oxygen levels. Bioluminescent ostracods have a unique history; they were used in World War II by the Japanese as a light source since it was bright enough for soldiers to see but no so bright as to give away their battlefield position.
Dinoflagellates, on the other hand, make up the majority of bioluminescence in these regions. Present day research has found 18 dinoflagellate groups that are known to be luminous. These tiny organisms create their glow when agitated either through fear of predation or mechanical agitation such as when a wave breaks or when you wave your hand through the surface of the water. The structure within dinoflagellates that produces light is called scintillons. One of the most commonly known species of bioluminescent dinoflagellates is Noctiluca scintillans often called sea sparkle. When disturbed they shoot out a blue-green light in the hopes that it will distract their predator long enough for them to get away. This survival tactic is known as the burglar alarm theory because it is thought that the light created by the dinoflagellate will not only allow it to escape its predator but might attract the predator of its attacker.
Still, little is known about the extent of the role that bioluminescence plays in ecology, but we are learning every day how important bioluminescence can be for us as humans. In exploring bioluminescence, we have uncovered ways to use the chemicals and enzymes as tracers in living proteins and cells, very literally bringing light to various biological and medical discoveries.
New Discoveries
For Florida, there are two places you absolutely can’t miss; Indian River Lagoon in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Navarre Beach near Pensacola. Here, using a glass bottom kayak, you can explore beautiful ecosystems while watching the water sparkle with bioluminescent dinoflagellates. Despite these amazing destinations you might be lucky enough to find bioluminescence in your own back yard. Many public and private canals are filled with bioluminescent dinoflagellates that sparkle with blue light.
Light pollution from major cities takes away from the light that is already all around us. Our busy and industrial lives often make it difficult to connect with the world around us but it doesn’t have to be impossible. If a trip to Jamaica, Puerto Rico or Taiwan is not on your bucket list; find yourself an enclosed piece of water connected to the ocean, on a moonless night and turn out the lights. You might be surprised by what the ocean has waiting for you.
Why do we seek the beauty of a sunset or the glow of city lights?
What is so captivating about light that leads us to tame fire and invent electricity?
I think we are all chasing the light in the hopes it will guide us somewhere better than where we are. I know I chase the light of the seas and the twinkling of tiny ocean creatures I might never see again.
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