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26 November 2020.
Introduction:
The tide that produces a fluorescent blue hue—bioluminescence—made an appearance on the Maharashtra coastline. The ‘blue tide’ was also witnessed along Dakshina Kannada-Udupi coast. This phenomenon is called bioluminescence, which is the emission of light by microscopic marine plants called phytoplanktons. Eg: dinoflagellates. The blue light stems from chemical reactions of proteins inside the organism.
About Dinoflagellates:
- It is the marine plankton.
- The population of Dinoflagellates thrives in water based on the sea temperature.
- Dinoflagellates is one of the largest groups of marine eukaryotes in species.
- These species are photosynthetic.
What is Bio-Luminescence?
- The sparkling light appearing in the sea from the microorganisms is called bio-luminescence.
- The Bioluminescence is usually higher in deep living organisms than the shallow species.
- Bioluminescence is controlled by a circadian clock and only occurs at night.
- Luminescent and non-luminescent strains can occur in the same species.
- During night time the number of species is high.
- The smaller blooms are not harmful.
- Basically, it is an anti-predatory response. Also, bioluminescence helps the micro organisms to gather together easily and form colonies.
How the blue light is related to Climate Change?
- According to the marine experts, the blue light is the sign of climatic changes.
- It also reveals the low oxygen and high nitrogen content in the sea water.
- Also, heavy rain causes Bio-Luminescence.
Is Blue Tide harmful?
- The smaller blooms of micro organisms are not harmful.
- On the other hand, the slow moving larger blooms have impact on deep sea fishing.
- Their colonies become larger only when the nitrogen presence is higher and dissolved oxygen content is lower.
- This environment is highly dangerous for fish as they mainly survive on oxygen.
- This happens due to fertilizer run off and discharge of untreated sewage into the oceans. Therefore, larger blue tide indicate deteriorating ocean ecosystem.
Is Bio-luminescence common in India?
- No, Bio-luminescence is not common in India.
- In India we can find Bio-luminescence in Lakshadweep, Goa, Mumbai, kannada(udupi).
Why do marine organisms glow?
- Species in the sea glows because of the chemicals in their body or bacteria in the skin.
- The oxygen reacts to produce substrate called luciferin that creates blue light in the waves.
Where does bio-Luminescence occur in other parts of the world?
Great Smoky Mountains, Cambodia. The Hawaiian islands, New Zealand ,Bermuda, Japan, Florida.