===== Bioluminescence - visual signaling - bioluminescent signaling =====


  * through chemical reactions or bacteria (eg. dinoflagelates emit light when agitated):
    * absorb light
    * emit light
    * scatter light

  * all energy is transferred into light (no heat emission) -- energy aquired from the sun or food

  * used for:
    * finding food
    * attracting mates
    * defense/camouflage

  * light organs: systems of lenses, mirrors, irises, light guides , color filters and shutters

  * organs: suckers (shallow water) - light organs (deep ocean) -- both used for communication

  * interensting transformations in the following organisms:
    * luminous responses in gelatinous species (jellies): http://lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/photo.html -- The hydromedusa Aequorea victoria is probably the most famous bio luminescent marine organism. Calcium-activated photoprotein and green-fluorescent protein (GFP) were first discovered and cloned from this cnidarian.
    * octopus
    * squid
    * cuttlefish
    * bact. Vibrio fisceri does not emit light until the population of cells has reached a concentrated culture:
      * population density influences light emission
      * population can sense its own concentration
      * [[quorum sensing]] + cell to cell communication:
        * a. send: cell announcing their existence to their neighbours +determining whether many cells are present (through a signal molecule)
        * b. receive message
        * c. translate message
        * d. act upon message (emit light)


==== general info ====

  * introduction to bioluminescence: http://www.bio.cmu.edu/courses/03441/TermPapers/97TermPapers/lux/bioluminescence.html
  * symposia, stories, references, images... http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/
  * resources: http://siobiolum.ucsd.edu/Biolum_web.html
  * "glow in the dark organisms (bacteria, funghi, plants, insects): http://www.luxgene.com/

==== creatures ====
  * the mysterious firefly squid > http://www.city.uozu.toyama.jp/en/htrk/index.html)


==== images ====


  * http://scilib.ucsd.edu/sio/nsf/fguide/annelida.html
  * http://biology.fullerton.edu/courses/biol_403/Web/zoobookmarks.html
  * http://www.imagequest3d.com/pages/current/pictureoftheweek/stomatopod/stomatopod.htm
  * http://www.imagequest3d.com/catalogue/larvalforms/index.htm

==== catalog information ====
  * http://www.imagequest3d.com/stock/tearsheets/index.htm




==== fun with  bioluminescent bacteria ====

Here are all the instructions you will need for growing temperate-tropical dinoflagellates in a lab (or at home) -> http://lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/dinohome.html

from the 'interesting organism" section -> http://lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/



  * related topics:
    * bioIridescence (counter illumination)
    * morphology of bioluminescent tissues
    * cell to cell interactions: http://salmon.mbio.co.jp/mbi/english/shimizu/program/celltocell/celltocell.html
    * general interests in marine organisms: http://siobiolum.ucsd.edu/Res_interests.html
    * fungal cell biology group @ uni edinbougough: http://crinan.bch.ed.ac.uk/research/read/fungalcell/
    * gelatinous molluscs: http://fp.redshift.com/pelagia/molluscs.htm
    * microscopic organisms (images):
      * http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela/
      * http://www.earthwindow.com/zoo.html