- Researchers have discovered how the bioluminescent phytoplankton Pyrocystis noctiluca manages to move between the ocean’s depths and surface.
- These single-celled organisms can inflate to six times their original size, making them less dense than seawater and allowing them to float upwards to photosynthesize.
- This inflation is driven by an internal structure called a vacuole, which fills with freshwater during cell division.
- After growing heavier at the surface, they sink to deeper waters, divide, inflate, and return to the surface, creating a cyclical movement like a natural submarine.
| Bioluminescence in Phytoplankton: Bioluminescence in phytoplankton is caused by a chemical reaction between the enzyme luciferase and the molecule luciferin, which emits light. This process occurs in specialized structures called scintillons and is often triggered by environmental changes like movement or agitation in the water. |
Dig Deeper: Know more about various fungi, bacteria etc. using bioluminescence as a defence mechanism to attract prey or mates.
