What is bioluminescence? In our environment there are a number of living beings such as insects, fungi, molluscs, fish. Crustaceans including bacteria that emit natural light in a fluorescent manner from which they do not emit heat. For example, there is an insect called a firefly or a beetle that has chemical components and proteins called luciferin in its body. Which tends to go through an oxidation process once it makes contact with the luciferase enzyme which will catalyze it to generate light.
Therefore, bioluminescence is understood as the chemical reaction that occurs when certain enzymes or substances are mixed that, being catalyzed, generate a kind of energy that emits light. This process occurs naturally in certain animals or living beings, whose light does not generate heat. The habitat of these living beings can exist both in the sea and on earth. As in the air, these can be such as molluscs, fish, crustaceans, insects, fungi, bacteria, etc.
However, this process or phenomenon has been a hypothesis whose opinion varies due to the studies carried out by different scientists in which their conclusion is incomplete, because their data are not notorious to the lived reality as it happens in the case of the fungus found in the high forests. from the Republic of the Congo near the Dzanga river, whose plant element (shiny mushroom) is completely unknown and to which genus it belongs.
How is bioluminescence classified?
According to studies carried out by biologists, this is classified into three main types of bioluminescence, such as:
- Intracellular, is the one that occurs in some species that are unicellular or multicellular which are produced by their own body cells. The marine habitat offers us a specific series of squids and algae (dinoflagellates). More than all of the protoperidinium genus that present this type of chemical substance.
- Extracellular, is what occurs in some cephalopods or crustaceans once all its chemical elements are synthesized. As we have already mentioned that they are called luciferous and luciferin, they are catalyzed by oxidizing, causing luminosity through their glands that are in their skin or under it. Expelling it by creating a cloudiness that gives off light, this happens mostly above the sea.
- Symbiosis with luminescent bacteria, are those that are present in the organisms of the animal kingdom that are found in the depths of the sea. Such as anemones, mollusks, worms, polyps, jellyfish among others. Which have glands or bladders called photophores that is where they store the bacteria that are Their light can be controlled according to the will of the species. Because many of these animals have a nervous system.
What functions does this process have in aquatic animals?
These have a diversity of functions that are very noticeable for them to develop in their natural environment, for some this natural light reflects sex, for others it serves as bait or bait, others for defense, in short, this process is extensive in the animal environment, however we name some more as a means of reference, these light is used for:
- Camouflage, there are many marine species that develop bacterial luminescence and especially if they live in the depths of the sea. One of them is the squid whose photoreceptor glands are the ones that control the luminosity according to the light in which the bottom of the water is. Acting as camouflage to scare away its predator.
- Defense measure against predators, dinoflagellates such as jellyfish, worms, mollusks, among others. They use this technique to defend themselves from the different species that inhabit the ecosystem. Said luminescence can be adopted as a defense, but there is the possibility that it also places other living organisms in a position of vulnerability.
- Lure their prey, Sharks and anglerfish use as bait to attract their prey using their light. The latter has an appendage hanging from its head that lights up, attracting fish or smaller animals to be eaten.
Two other important functions.
- It serves to distract its predators more than anything. Mollusks as well as certain squids when they feel threatened release a cloud of luminous material. Giving them a chance to escape to a safe place away from their predator.
- Lighting (bioluminescence) plays a very important role in the marine world since most give off a blue or green color. Only the black dragon fish is the one that produces a red glow, this is due to the filtration of the water columns which in turn help the variety of fish to adapt. And to visualize which are the species that are more juvenile and that are invisible due to their marine depth.