Abstract
The distributions of bioluminescence, temperature, salinity, oxygen. pH, and chlorophyll a were measured at 10 m intervals, to a depth of 100 m at a station (33°46′N; 119°36′W) in the California Current from 17 to 20 July 1982. The distribution of bioluminescence showed a marked day-night change which was consistent over the sampling period. The nighttime maximum was at the surface, and the daytime maximum was between 30 and 40 m. The shapes of the day and night distributions were independent of the absolute intensity of bioluminescence and were also insensitive to advection, as inferred from changing temperature-salinity relationships. The nighttime depth distribution broadened during a period of high wind Day to night differences in the color spectrum at the depth of maximum bioluminescence suggest that the luminescent organisms differed from day to night.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Backus, R. H., R. C. Clark and A. S. Wing: Bioluminescence in the surface waters of the sea. Nature, Lond. 192, 518–521 (1961)
Bityukov, E. P.: Bioluminescence in a ship wake in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Oceanology, Wash 11, 103–108 (1971)
Clarke, G. L. and M. G. Kelly: Measurements of diurnal changes in bioluminescence from the sea surface to 2 000 m using a new photometric device. Limnol. Oceanogr. 10 (Suppl.), R54-R66 (1965)
Cullen, J. J., F. M. H. Reid and E. Stewart: Phytoplankton in the surface and chlorophyll maximum off southern California in August 1978. J. Plankton Res. 6, 665–694 (1982)
Esaias, W. E., and H. C. Curl: Effects of dinoflagellate bioluminescence on copepod ingestion rates. Limnol. Oceanogr. 18, 901–905 (1972)
Galt, C. P.: Bioluminescence: dual mechanism in a planktonic tunicate produces brilliant surface display. Science, N.Y. 200, 70–72 (1978)
Kampa, E. M. and B. P. Boden: Light generation in a sonic scattering layer. Deep-Sea Res. 4, 73–92 (1957)
Losee, J. R. and D. Lapota: Bioluminescence measurements in the Atlantic and Pacific. In: Bioluminescence — current perspectives, pp 143–152. Ed. by K. H. Nealson. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Burgess Publishing Co. 1981
Losee, J. R., D. Lapota and S. Lieberman: Bioluminescence: a new tool for oceanography? Symp. Ser. Am. chem. Soc. (In press). (1984)
Lynch, R. V.: The distribution of luminous marine organisms: a literature review. In: Bioluminescence — current perspectives, pp 153–159. Ed. by K. H. Nealson. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Burgess Publishing Co. 1981
Reid, J. L., Jr., G. I. Roden and J. G. Wyllie: Studies of the California Current system. Rep. Calif. coop. ocean. Fish. Invest. (CalCOFI) 1 July 1956–1 Jan 1958 27–56 (1958)
Seliger, H. H., W. G. Fastie and W. D. McElroy: Bioluminescence in Chesapeake Bay. Science, N.Y. 133, 699–700 (1961)
Seliger, H. H. and W. D. McElroy: Studies at Oyster Bay in Jamaica, West Indies. I. Intensity patterns of bioluminescence in a natural environment. J. mar. Res. 26, 244–255 (1968)
Strickland, J. D. H. and T. R. Parsons: A practical handbook of seawater analysis, 2nd ed. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 167, 1–310 (1972)
Vinogradov, M. E., I. I. Gitelzon and Yu. I. Sorokin: The vertical structure of a pelagic community in the tropical ocean. Mar. Biol. 6, 187–194 (1970)
Warner, J. A., M. I. Latz and J. F. Case: Cryptic bioluminescence in a midwater shrimp. Science, N.Y. 203, 1109–1110 (1979)
Yentsch, C. S., R. A. Backus and A. S. Wing: Factors affecting the vertical distribution of bioluminescence in the euphotic zone. Limnol. Oceanogr. 9, 519–524 (1964)
Young, R. E. and F. M. Mencher: Bioluminescence in mesopelagic squid: diel color change during counterillumination. Science, N.Y. 208, 1286–1288 (1980)
Zirino, A.: Measurement of the apparent pH of seawater with a combination microelectrode. Limnol. Oceanogr. 20, 654–657 (1975)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by N. D. Holland, La Jolla
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Greenblatt, P.R., Feng, D.F., Zirino, A. et al. Observations of planktonic bioluminescence in the euphotic zone of the California Current. Mar. Biol. 84, 75–82 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394529
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394529