Light from a firefly at temperatures considerably higher and lower than normal.

ABSTRACT: Bioluminescence emissions from a few species of fireflies have been studied at different temperatures. Variations in the flash-duration have been observed and interesting conclusions drawn in those studies. Here we investigate steady-state and pulsed emissions from male specimens of the Indian species Sclerotia substriata at temperatures considerably higher and lower than the ones at which they normally flash. When the temperature is raised to 34 °C, the peak wavelength gets red-shifted and the emitted pulses become the narrowest which broaden considerably thereafter for small increases in temperature; this probably indicates denaturation of the enzyme luciferase catalyzing the light-producing reaction. When the temperature is decreased to the region of 10.5-9 °C, the peak gets blue-shifte

SUBMITTER: Rabha MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8203691 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature