Residents of Thiruvanmiyur and Neelankarai experienced a stunning spectacle on Friday night as stretches of the beach glowed with bioluminescence.
Source: The Hindu
About Bioluminescence:
It occurs due to the presence of some marine planktons called dinoflagellates that produce light when the water is disturbed.
These planktons emit light on the ocean surface at night.
Bioluminescence is widespread among deep sea animals in general.
Many marine creatures like sponges, jellyfish, worms, species of fish, arthropods, echinoderms and unicellular alga exhibit bioluminescence to either evade predators, attract prey or during mating.
This phenomenon is most likely the result of an algal bloom of the dinoflagellate species of noctiluca and ceratium.
This occurs when the luciferase enzyme reacts with the luciferin compound in the presence of oxygen to produce a cold light.
This is widespread in lagoons and sometimes breakwaters and is particularly visible during warm weather conditions
The dinoflagellates follow a circadian cycle (24-hour cycle) and as a result this phenomenon occurs during the night which is visible in low light conditions.
It has been visible in some beaches in India including Havelock Island in the Andamans, Thiruvanmiyur beach in Chennai, Mattu beach in Karnataka and Bangaram Island in Lakshadweep.
Planktons:
These are a group of marine and freshwater organisms that drift along ocean currents because they are too small or weak to swim against them.
They range in size from 2 micrometers to more than 20 centimeters.
Online Classes
