Interactions And Behaviors Of Jelly Fish Bioluminescence

This research article goes into the interactions and behaviors of jellyfish, including bioluminescence. It is touched upon how the environment and diet of a jellyfish affects their bioluminescence. There is also information on who they cohabitate with, and who their predators and prey are. Medusa jellyfish mainly feed off of zooplankton, and are also one of the few bioluminescent jellyfish.

5. Arai, Mary N. "A Functional Biology of Scyphozoa." Google Books. Google, n.d. Web. 19 May 2016. https://books.google.com/books?id=N2_wCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA216&lpg=PA216&dq=why%2Bdo% 2Bscyphozoa%2Bglow&source=bl&ots=vQ8GVNa7DJ&sig=MY9FgiLBvtqdinPe_7aMPt4hupw&hl= en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiX78n3w9_MAhVM1WMKHacpBkgQ6AEIVDAI#v=onepage&q=why%20 do%20scyphozoa%20glow&f=false

According to scientists, the “truest jellyfish” are scyphozoans. These jellyfish have tetra-radial symmetry, are exclusively marine, and have tentacles around their and stomach. They’re dome-shaped bodies are gelatinous and translucent. All scyphozoan have the ability to sting thanks to their nematocyst, and many are bioluminescent. (Jeryan, Christine B.) This bioluminescence has only been observed in 5 species of scyphozoans. One jelly fish for example, the Pelagia noticluca, is a bioluminescent jellyfish. They will not just light up randomly, but when stimulated they will emit a strong green-blue light. This stimulus is physical contact with another creature or object to their outer-body (exumbrella). At the point they are touched, they will emit light, and then streaks of light will extend out from that point. Another species of jelly, the Atolla wyvielli, emits a pure blue light when stimulated. This stimulus is similar to that of the Pelagia noticluca, as in that when touched they will emit light. This light will be immediately visible in most parts of its body, from their outer body, to their tentacles, and even ovaries in certain females. (Arai, Mary N. 216) The few species that exhibit bioluminescence do so in slightly different ways, and at different parts of the body, but the science behind it is all the

Bioluminescence is a catalyzed chemiluminescence wherein which chemical energy is converted into light energy. This light does not depend on the temperature of the excited molecule or prior absorption of light. The enzymes and substrates involved in this process differ from jellyfish to jellyfish, as do various other factors. In most cases, the substrates are oxygenized and catalyze the formation of an ‘intermediate proxy compound’. Its return to ground state leads to the actually lighting up of a jellyfish. (Jeryan, Christine B.)Two main chemicals contribute to this amazing trait, green florescent protein (GFP) and aequorin. These were discovered to cause bioluminescence in jellyfish by Osamu Shimomura in 1961 while studying the photoproteins that cause bioluminescence in the jellyfish species Aequorea Victoria. (University of Saint Andrews) Knowing how this spectacular phenomenon occurs is one thing, but knowing exactly why they do it is the real