Bioluminescence: Related Content
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Using Light Painting to Teach Bioluminescence
What does a bioluminescent creature that lives more than two miles below the surface of the ocean and a glow stick have in common? More than you think.
In a unique spin on an art technique called "light painting," you can create your own bioluminescent organisms with glow sticks in your classroom or home.
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Light Painting Tutorial
What does a bioluminescent creature that lives more than two miles below the surface of the ocean and a glow stick have in common? More than you think. Bioluminescence is the process by which living organisms produce their own light. Using a photographic technique called light painting, you can do a fun activity to engage students to learn about bioluminescence with art.
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Light Painted Fish
What does a bioluminescent creature that lives more than two miles below the surface of the ocean and a glow stick have in common? More than you think. Bioluminescence is the process by which living organisms produce their own light. Using a photographic technique called light painting, you can do a fun activity to engage students to learn about bioluminescence with art.
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Light Painting of a Jellyfish
What does a bioluminescent creature that lives more than 2 miles below the surface of the ocean and a glow stick have in common? More than you think. Bioluminescence is the process by which living organisms produce their own light. Using a photographic technique called light painting, you can do a fun activity to engage students to learn about bioluminescence with art.
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Sea Walnut (Mnemiopsis leidyi)
This ctenophore (a stingless jellyfish-like animal) is native to the east coast of North and South America. In 1982, it was discovered in the Black Sea, where it was transported by ballast water. It subsequently spread to the Caspian Sea. In both places it multiplied and formed immense populations. The sea walnuts contributed to the collapse of local fisheries because they feed on zooplankton that the commercial fish also consume.
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Midwater Squid, Abralia veranyi
Glowing photophores are visible on a squid (Abralia veranyi) viewed from below at low light levels. We think of light as a way to see in the dark. But many species use it to help them hide. This adaptation is called counterillumination. Seen from below, an animal might stand out as a dark shape against the brighter water above. By glowing on its underside, it can blend in.
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Lanternfish
This lanternfish (Diaphus sp.), found in the Red Sea, has light-producing photophores along its ventral surface (belly), and a nasal light organ that acts like a headlight. Hear scientists tell stories about encountering bioluminescent marine animals in the deep sea.
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Bioluminescing Dinoflagellate
Sunset? Time to glow! A biological clock triggers bioluminescence in the dinoflagellate Pyrocystis fusiformis. At dusk, cells produce the chemicals responsible for its light. Hear from marine scientists about what it's like to encounter bioluminescent animals in the deep sea.
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The Making of "The Bright Beneath"
Follow an artist from inspiration to installation in this short video. It features the work in the exhibit, "The Bright Beneath: The Luminous Art of Shih Chieh Huang," at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Huang created the installation of light-filled, animated objects after a careful study of bioluminescent marine animals in the museum's collection.
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The Bright Beneath, a 2011 Installation by Shih Chieh Huang
Artist Shih Chieh Huang creates work using plastic bags, household objects, computer cooling fans, LED lights, and other assorted materials.
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Artist Shih Chieh Huang
Artist Shih Chieh Huang assembling one of his installations. Huang was a Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow in 2007 and spent his time studying bioluminescent marine animals.
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When Art Meets Science: Exhibition Inspired by Bioluminescence
Artist Shih Chieh Huang spent a good part of 2007 exploring specimens of deep-ocean animals found in the collections of the National Museum of Natural History. He was a Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow and was investigating the unusual evolutionary adaptations that allow these creatures to live in environments unthinkable to humans.
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Bioluminescent Animals Photo Gallery
Bioluminescence is one of the more captivating adaptations that have evolved in marine animals. It's the ability of organisms to create and emit light. Dive underwater and you may witness lightshows of red, green, and blue. Chemical reactions release energy that produces the light. Many species use it to communicate; some use it to lure their next meal; and others emit light to ward off predators.
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Squid at Sunset Reef Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
“Upon returning from the reef after a night dive, I swam toward a bright reflection and came eye-to-eye with this beautiful, curious squid," said Charles Viggers, a Nature's Best photographer.
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A Shortnose Greeneye Fish Aglow
Under white light, this shortnose greeneye fish (Chlorophthalmus agassizi) looks unimpressive. But, in dim blue light—the type usually seen at depth—it shows its true fluorescent colors.
NOAA scientists collected this specimen during a 2004 expedition for optical studies. The scientists believe the green flouresence of the fish’s eye lenses help it detect prey better in dimly lit water.
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Creepy Critters: Marine Life Surfaces for Halloween
Claws, spines, spikes, tentacles, and fangs. Aliens, monsters, and ghostly apparitions glowing in the night. Marine life forms have some of the best looks for Halloween—no costumes needed. From freaky fish lurking beneath the surface to creepy crawlies of the deep, meet some of the sea’s strangest and most haunting characters. Then tell us: Which ocean creature scares you the most?
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Atolla Jellyfish from the Waters of Japan
The ROV Hyper Dolphin caught this deep-sea jelly (Atolla wyvillei) on film east of Izu-Oshina Island, Japan. When attacked, it uses bioluminescence to "scream" for help—an amazing light show known as a burglar alarm display. Visit the Encyclopedia of Life to learn more about these wild jellies.
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Encounters with Bioluminescent Creatures
Scientists describe the amazing bioluminescent creatures they encounter as they descend into the deep--siphonophores, ctenophores, and viperfish--in this Smithsonian/History Channel "Deep Ocean Explorers" video excerpt.
If you like this video, watch the full 14-minute version of the Deep Ocean Explorers video, and you can explore more in the Deep Ocean Exploration section.
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Encounters with Bioluminescent Creatures Photo
In this excerpt from the Deep Ocean Explorers video, scientists describe encounters with some astonishing bioluminescent creatures. More about deep ocean exploration can be found in our Deep Ocean Exploration featured story.
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Fish Using Counterillumination
The fish at left stands out against the lighter waters above. At right the same fish—now with bioluminescent structures on its underside lit—blends in. Many deep sea creatures have evolved this adaptation (known as counterillumination), which enables them to hide in an environment with few hiding places.
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Cockatoo Squid
This transparent cranchiid, or cockatoo squid (Leachia sp.), retains ammonia solutions inside its body—giving it a balloon-like shape and helping it float. It has large eyes and pigment-filled cells (chromatophores) that look like polka dots and serve as camouflage—all adaptations to life in the deep ocean.
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Jewel Squid
This beautiful jewel squid (Histioteuthis bonnellii) can be found swimming above the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at depths of 500-2,000 meters (1,640-6,562 feet). The “jewels” covering the body are bioluminescent photophores.
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Midwater Jellyfish
A fringe of short tentacles surrounds the flattened bell of this tiny, transparent jellyfish (Halicreas minimum). The bell grows up to just 4 centimeters (2 inches) across. The jellyfish is found floating in the ocean down to about 300 meters (984 feet).
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Sea Creatures from the Deep: A Video by National Geographic and the Census of Marine Life
The Census of Marine Life - a ten-year effort by scientists from around the world to answer the age-old question, “What lives in the sea?” It was an international effort to asses the diversity, distribution, and abundance of marine life in our ocean, and the project offically concluded in October 2010.
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Deep Ocean Explorers
The submersible Alvin carries scientists to the deep ocean, where they encounter amazing creatures and views of deep ocean life. Explore more in the Deep Ocean Exploration section.
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Fangtooth Fish
This aptly named fish (Anoplogaster cornuta) has long, menacing fangs, but the adult fish reaches only about 17 cm (6 inches) in length. It has been found as deep as 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) and is most common between 500 and 2,000 meters (1,640 and 6,562 feet).
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Scaly Dragonfish
The long barbel on the chin of this dragonfish (Stomias boa) has a glowing tip that may attract prey. With its large mouth and sharp, curved teeth, the fish makes quick work of any prey that venture too close. Scaly dragonfish live at depths of 200-1,500 meters (656-4,921 feet) and grow up to 32 centimeters (12.6 inches) long.
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Bioluminescent Octopod
The yellow bioluminescent ring on this female octopod (Bolitaena pygmaea) may attract mates. Bioluminescence is an important adaptation that helps many deep sea animals survive in their dark world.
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Deep Ocean Exploration
Deep below the ocean’s surface is a mysterious world that takes up 95% of Earth’s living space. It could hide 20 Washington Monuments stacked on top of each other. But the deep sea remains largely unexplored. Dive down 200 meters (one monument), and you notice that light starts fading rapidly. Dive deeper. The temperature drops and pressure rises. At 4,000 meters (20 monuments), the temperature hovers around freezing, and there’s no sunlight at all. Yet there is life—an astounding variety of creatures that boggle your mind.
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Deep Lights
Students compare and contrast the various methods (chemiluminescence, bioluminescence, fluorescence, phosphorescence, triboluminescence) of light-production in deep-sea organisms. Students infer the light-producing process that is responsible for light emission based on observations of an ecosystem.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. -
Light at the Bottom of the Deep Dark Ocean
Students will be able to list the various adaptations that enable deep-sea fishes to survive; explain how biolouminescence helps deep-sea fish respond to food predator and reproductive pressures in their environments; explore how the structure of an appendage helps determine and utilize its function; describe how deepwater organisms respond to their dark environment.
For more information: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov.
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Now You See Me, Now You Don’t
Students will be able to explain light in terms of electromagnetic waves and explain the relationship between color and wavelength; compare and contrast color related to wavelength with color perceived by biological vision systems; explain how color and light may be important to deep-sea organisms, even under conditions of near-total darkness; and predict the perceived color of objects when illuminated by light of certain wavelengths.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. -
Giant Squid
The largest giant squid ever recorded was nearly 16 meters (50 feet) long and may have weighed nearly a ton. You’d think such a huge animal would be hard to miss. But the ocean is vast…and giant squid live deep down. So they remain elusive and are rarely seen. In fact, until a video was made in 2006, no scientist had ever filmed a giant squid. A female had just attacked bait suspended beneath a Japanese research vessel off the Ogasawara Islands.
