Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Correlation of bioluminescence emissions with ventral photophores in the mesopelagic squid Abralia veranyi (Cephalopoda: Enoploteuthidae)

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Specimens of the squid Abralia veranyi were collected off the Bahamas in 1989. The bioluminescence of the ventral photophores was recorded on videotape at 11 to 12°C and 24°C, in conjunction with measurements of the spectral emission at the same temperatures. At 11 °C, the spectrum was unimodal, peaking at 490 nm with a narrow bandwidth. At the higher temperature a shoulder at about 440 nm appeared in the emission spectrum. The short, bright flashes from the subocular photophores had a broader bandwidth and a shorter wavelength emission maximum (475 nm) than that of the ventral photophores. Video recordings at the two temperatures showed no changes in either the identities of the luminescing photophores or their relative intensities. One structurally distinct type of photophore was not illuminated. We conclude that the observed spectral changes were produced within one group of photophores, and that recruitment of the unilluminated photophores would produce an additional spectral component, previously reported from another species of Abralia (A. trigonura).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Cooper, K.M., Hanlon, R.T., Budelmann, B.U. (1990). Physiological color change in squid iridophores. II. Ultrastructural mechanisms in Lolliguncula brevis. Cell Tissue Res. 259:15–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Denton, E.J., Herring, P.J., Widder, E.A., Latz, M.I., Case, J.F. (1985). The roles of filters in the photophores of oceanic animals and their relation to vision in the oceanic environment. Proc. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 225: 63–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckstein, J.W., Cho, K.W., Colepicolo, P., Ghisla, S., Hastings, J.W., Wilson, T. (1990). A time-dependent bacterial bioluminescence emission spectrum in an in vitro single turnover system: energy transfer alone cannot account for the yellow emission of Vibrio fischeri Y-1. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87: 1466–1470

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herring, P.J. (1983). The spectral characteristics of luminous marine animals. Proc. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 220: 183–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Herring, P.J. (1988). Luminescent organs. In: Trueman, E.R., Clarke, M.R. (eds.). The Mollusca. 11. Academic Press, San Diego, p. 449–489

    Google Scholar 

  • Latz, M.I., Frank, T.M., Case, J.F. (1988). Spectral composition of bioluminescence of epipelagic organisms from the Sargasso Sea. Mar. Biol. 98: 441–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leisman, G., Nealson, K.H. (1982). Yellow light emission in luminous bacteria: purification and properties of a yellow fluorescent protein. In: Massey, V., Williams, C.H. (eds.) Flavins and flavoproteins. Elsevier, New York, p. 383–386

    Google Scholar 

  • Lythgoe, J.N., Shand, J. (1982). Changes in spectral reflexions from the iridophores of the neon tetra. J. Physiol. 325: 23–34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McElroy, W.D., Seliger, H.H., DeLuca, M. (1974). Insect bioluminescence. In: Rockstein, M. (ed.) The physiology of Insecta. II. Academic Press, New York, p. 411–460

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ruby, E.G., Nealson, K.H. (1977). A luminous bacterium that emits yellow light. Science, N.Y. 196: 432–434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Widder, E.A., Latz, M.I., Case, J.F. (1983). Marine bioluminescence spectra measured with an optical multichannel detection system. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 165: 791–810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Widder, E.A., Latz, M.I., Herring, P.J., Case, J.F. (1984). Far-red bioluminescence from two deep-sea fishes. Science, N.Y. 225: 512–514

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young, R.E., Arnold, J.M. (1982). The functional morphology of a ventral photophore from the mesopelagic squid, Abralia trigonura. Malacologia 23: 135–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, R.E., Bennett, T.M. (1988). Photophore structure and evolution within the Enoploteuthinae (Cephalopoda). In: Clarke, M.R., Trueman, E.R. (eds.) The Mollusca, 12. Academic Press, San Diego, p. 241–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, R.E., Mencher, F.M. (1980). Bioluminescence in mesopelagic squid: diel color change during counterillumination. Science, N.Y. 208: 1286–1288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young, R.E., Seapy, R.R., Mangold, K.M., Hochberg, F.G., Jr. (1982). Luminescent flashing in the midwater squids Pterygioteuthis microlampas and P. giardi. Mar. Biol. 69: 299–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deacon Laboratory, Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Brook Road, Wormley, GU8 5UB, Godalming, Surrey, England

    P. J. Herring

  2. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, 5600 Old Dixie Highway, 34946, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA

    E. A. Widder

  3. Marine Science Institute, University of California, 93106, Santa Barbara, California, USA

    S. H. D. Haddock

Authors
  1. P. J. Herring
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. A. Widder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. H. D. Haddock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Herring, P.J., Widder, E.A. & Haddock, S.H.D. Correlation of bioluminescence emissions with ventral photophores in the mesopelagic squid Abralia veranyi (Cephalopoda: Enoploteuthidae). Mar. Biol. 112, 293–298 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00702474

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00702474

Keywords

Search

Navigation