Quantification of bioluminescence from the surface to the deep sea demonstrates its predominance as an ecological trait.

ABSTRACT: The capability of animals to emit light, called bioluminescence, is considered to be a major factor in ecological interactions. Because it occurs across diverse taxa, measurements of bioluminescence can be powerful to detect and quantify organisms in the ocean. In this study, 17 years of video observations were recorded by remotely operated vehicles during surveys off the California Coast, from the surface down to 3,900 m depth. More than 350,000 observations are classified for their bioluminescence capability based on literature descriptions. The organisms represented 553 phylogenetic concepts (species, genera or families, at the most precise taxonomic level defined from the images), distributed within 13 broader taxonomic categories. The importance of bioluminescent marine taxa is highli

SUBMITTER: Martini S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5379559 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature