Unexpected diversity of bioluminescence in planktonic worms

The vast majority of pelagic bioluminescent organisms emit a blue light with emission maxima (λmax) ranging from 450 to 490 nm. Among the known outliers, the tomopterids (Annelida: Polychaeta) are usually described as yellow‐emitters (λmax = 565–570 nm) for which bioluminescence functions as a speci...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Luminescence (Chichester, England) England), 2017-05, Vol.32 (3), p.394-400
Main Authors: Gouveneaux, A., Flood, P.R., Mallefet, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analogies
Animals
annelid luminescence
Annelida
Bioluminescence
blue light
cholinergic control
Color
Colour
Luminescence
Luminescent Measurements
Marine
Microscopy
Organisms
Pharmacology
Plankton - chemistry
Polychaeta
Polychaeta - chemistry
spectra
Tomopteridea
Tomopteris pacifica
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The vast majority of pelagic bioluminescent organisms emit a blue light with emission maxima (λmax) ranging from 450 to 490 nm. Among the known outliers, the tomopterids (Annelida: Polychaeta) are usually described as yellow‐emitters (λmax = 565–570 nm) for which bioluminescence functions as a specific recognition signal. Here, we report the first data regarding the colours emitted by four different tomopterid species, Tomopteris pacifica, T. carpenteri, T. septentrionalis and T. planktonis. Surprisingly, T. planktonis is a blue‐emitter (λmax = 450 nm). Our pharmacological results on T. planktonis support cholinergic control, as recently demonstrated in the yellow‐emitter, T. helgolandica. Moreover, as revealed by epifluorescence microscopy, the light seems to be produced in both species from the same yellow‐pigmented parapodial glands. Despite these similarities, tomopterids express an unexpected diversity of bioluminescent colour patterns. This leads us to reassess the ecological value of bioluminescence within this group.
ISSN:1522-7235
1522-7243
DOI:10.1002/bio.3192