Wednesday 3 September 2014

Fish filmed spitting ostracod 'fireworks'

One of nature's most dazzling underwater displays, bioluminescence, has been captured as a form of self-defence by a BBC film crew.

Ostracods are one of the ocean-living animals which give off light when they are disturbed.

They produce the chemicals luciferin and luciferase, which emit light when mixed together. The process is called bioluminescence, an adaptation that allows animals to be seen in the complete darkness of the deep sea.

To demonstrate why organisms are able to generate light, ostracods were put into a tank containing cardinal fish, which eat plankton.

When an ostracod is swallowed, it emits a burst of light, making the cardinal fish spit it out.

Physicist and BBC presenter Helen Czerski said: "It's like a little fish firework."

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