Research into bioluminescence of the Black Sea ctenophores Pleurobrachia pileus O.F. Müller, 1776. 2023

Alexandr Melnik, and Mikhail Silakov, and Olga Mashukova, and Lidia Melnik
A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Sevastopol, Russia.

The work presents the findings of the laboratory and in situ studies of ctenophore Pleurobrachia pileus O.F. Müller, 1776 which have shown that this species has bioluminescent properties. These organisms were considered non-luminous before. P. pileus bioluminescence was studied on board RV Professor Vodyanitsky during its 116th voyage. Sampling live organisms was preceded by probing with the Salpa MA+ probe to register the daily maximum glow in redoxcline, which in this zone was recorded, as a rule, in the depth range of 60-70 m, where dense clusters of P. pileus were formed at that time. The samples of ctenophores were taken by a Bogorov-Rass plankton net. After the net was closed, it was lifted to the surface at a speed of 0.4-0.5 m s-1 . It was shown that only at a temperature not exceeding 14°C, the P. pileus remained alive for 2-3 days. The data provided indicate that the temperature above 14°C is close to the maximum permissible for P. pileus; therefore, chemical and mechanical stimulation experiments were carried out at this temperature (14°C) to agitate ctenophores luminescence. Though, the nature of their signal was significantly different. The total percentage of luminous organisms from the entire catch was 32.43%, which unequivocally proves that P. pileus glows and makes a significant contribution to the intensity of the glow at great depths in redoxcline.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D049449 Luminescence Emission of LIGHT when ELECTRONS return to the electronic ground state from an excited state and lose the energy as PHOTONS. It is sometimes called cool light in contrast to INCANDESCENCE. LUMINESCENT MEASUREMENTS take advantage of this type of light emitted from LUMINESCENT AGENTS. Luminescence, Physical,Chemiluminescence,Chemiluminescence, Physical,Physical Chemiluminescence,Physical Luminescence
D059038 Black Sea An inland sea between Europe and Asia. It is connected with the Aegean Sea by the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles.
D037302 Ctenophora Phylum of marine colenterates characterized by eight comb rows of fused cilia on the body surface. In contrast to CNIDARIA they lack stinging cells, but they are voracious predators and possess sticky cells (colloblasts) for capturing prey. Most species are transparent and many exhibit bioluminescence. Beroe,Comb Jellies,Ctenophores,Mnemiopsis,Sea Walnuts,Beroes,Comb Jelly,Ctenophoras,Ctenophore,Jellies, Comb,Jelly, Comb,Mnemiopses,Sea Walnut,Walnut, Sea,Walnuts, Sea

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