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General Info
Where is it found?/Technology used
How is it used?
How does it happen?
100
What is Bioluminescence?
When living organisms generate light with chemical reactions
100
What is an example of bioluminescence on land?
Firefly or foxfire (a fungus)
100
What general ways is bioluminescence used?
Luring prey, defensive, attracting mates, and recognition
100
What are the chemicals in a bioluminescent chemical reaction called?
Luciferin and luciferase
200
Does light from bioluminscence produce heat?
No
200
Is bioluminescence found in saltwater or freshwater?
Both!!
200
Give two examples of defensive uses for bioluminescence
Startle, counterillumination (disguising shadows), misdirection, distractive body parts, warning coloration (burglar alarm)
200
What is the name for a compound that can produce light?
Luciferin
300
What is unique about fireflies' light flashes?
They are different for different species.
300
What are the instruments used to study bioluminescence called?
bathyphotometer
300
Give two examples of offensive uses of bioluminescence
lure prey, stun/confuse prey, illuminate prey
300
What products does the reaction between the luciferin and the luciferase create?
Oxyluciferin and light
400
What color light is most common in the ocean?
Blue
400
At what depth of the ocean can you find bioluminescence?
Any depth, although there is more the deeper you go
400
Why would a fish develop red bioluminescence when most other animals can only see blue?
It helps them find prey
400
Is luciferin an actual chemical?
No, it is just a term used for the compounds that produce light.
500
Give at least one reason for why glowsticks are a good analogy for bioluminescence?
Both produce cold light, both produced by some sort of chemical reaction, both need something to start reaction
500
What is a firefly's primary use for bioluminescence?
To find a mate
500
An animal that "takes off" body parts to distract predators
What is a brittle star? (Other answers could be sea cucumbers and jellyfish.)
500
What is the reaction sometimes contained in?
A photoprotein