Bioluminescence
What is Bioluminesence?
The production of light by living organisms.
What is Bioflorescence?
When high energy light (i.e ultraviolet) is absorbed and reemitted in living organisms, resulting in a glow of flourescent colors.
Why do pumpkin toadlets have bioflourescent bones?
The fluorescence of the pumpkin toadlet is attributed to bone growth which is only revealed under UV lighting, and change color based on the maturity of the frog. The fluorescence of the bones is not equal, as some bones will fluoresce more than others, and is also confined to two species of the frog (B. ephippium and B. pitanga) with fluorescence attributed to collagen. (Sandra Goutte et. al., 2019)
How does habitat impact bioflorescence? Give an example.
Habitat impacts bioflorescence greatly.
Ex. Marine bioluminescence is expressed in the blue-green part of the visible light spectrum,as these colors are more easily visible in the deep ocean.
Where is bioluminescence most seen?
The ocean
True or false:
Most animals who biofluoresce are yet to me discovered
True! Because biofluorescence is often invisible to human eyes without special equipment, many organisms have yet to be tested for fluorescence.
Why are moon jellyfish bioluminescent?
a) Because pretty and shiny
b) Over time, they evolved to use it to scare off predators
c) It is caused by a chemical reaction in their body
Trick question! Both B and C are correct!
What parts of a habitat affect bioflourescence?
Things like amount of light, chemicals, and the surrounding area affects bioflorescence.
Moon jellyfish use bioluminescence to:
a) deter predators
b) attract mates
c) draw in prey
d) all of the above
D) All of the above
What part of the pumpkin toadlet is bioflourescence?
The BONES
True or False:
Tiger salamanders do not need UV light to cause biofluorescence
False! Salamanders need the light. That's the whole point and cause of biofluorescence.
Where do pumpkin toadlets reside?
"Pumpkin Toadlets are found in Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira in southeastern Brazil. They occur in montane Atlantic coastal forest, from 750 m to 1200 m in elevation. These frogs inhabit leaf litter on the forest floor" (Pombal et al., 1994)
Who is the father of Bioluminescence?
Emmett W. Chappelle
What is the reason behind bioflorescence in most animals?
The existence of biofluorescence in animals is thought to have many functions, including but not limited to communication, sexual selection, camouflage, improved visual acuity or perhaps no functions at all for some species. Vertebrates, salamanders, frogs, and caecelians have “red-rods” which are maximally sensitive to green light. (Jennifer Lamb & Matthew Davis, 2020)
What chemical compound causes bioflourescence?
Biofluorescence is the result of natural fluorophores (chemicals that fluoresce)
Where do moon jellyfish like to inhabit?
"They prefer a warm environment and often live near coastlines in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. These organisms can live in saltwater or brackish (mixed salt- and freshwater) environments, and waters between 45- and 70-degrees Fahrenheit." (Rosamond Gifford Zoo, 2023)
What enzyme is involved in most bioluminescent reactions?
a) Lactase
b) Trypsin
c) Luciferase
C) Most bioluminescent reactions involve luciferase.
What flourescent colors do tiger salamanders give off?
Peak fluorescent emissions coming from these amphibians fall within the spectrum of green light (Jennifer Lamb & Matthew Davis, 2020)
What caused Emmett W. Chappelle to discover bioluminescence?
a) his job at NASA
b) he wasn't the person who discovered bioluminescence
c) He discovered it while in the military
A) "It was during his time at NASA-Goddard that Mr. Chappelle discovered that all living cells are capable of bioluminescence in the presence of a chemical combination found in fireflies, luciferase. Immediately seeing the potential of this chemical reaction, Mr. Chappelle began to focus on the applications of this reaction."(Erica Mitchell,2023)
What habitats are tiger salamanders found in?
They are found in forests, fields, meadows, grasslands and deserts. As adults, these primarily nocturnal salamanders spend most of their time underground in burrows. (Smithsonian National Zoo, 2023)
*Date published was not found, put date accessed instead