Diel Bioluminescence in Heterotrophic and Photosynthetic Marine Dinoflagellates in an Arctic Fjord

Abstract

Oceanic and coastal bioluminescence in surface waters, in many instances, is produced by microscopic dinoflagellates. Their light emission is usually observed at a maximum during the night hours and markedly inhibited during the day. This diel periodicity has never been observed in situ for identified species and never before in heterotrophic Protoperidinium dinoflagellates. Pronounced differences in stimulable bioluminescence measured with bathyphotometers in Vestfjord, Norway in September 1990 correlated with simultaneous ship-board laboratory experiments. Cells of both the photosynthetic Ceratium fusus and heterotrophic Protoperidinium curtipes showed a pronounced inhibition of bioluminescence during the day and maximum bioluminescence at night.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA265651

Entities

People

  • David K. Young
  • David Lapota
  • Howard D. Huddell
  • Mark L. Geiger
  • Stephen A. Bernstein

Organizations

  • Naval Command, Control and Ocean Surveillance Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aquatic Organisms
  • Bioluminescence
  • Birds
  • Cells
  • Circadian Rhythms
  • Diurnal Variations
  • Emission
  • Inhibition
  • Marine Biology
  • Measurement
  • Oceanography
  • Oceans
  • Periodic Variations
  • Sea Water
  • Surface Waters
  • Water

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Marine Ecotoxicology
  • Mathematics or Statistics