Bioluminescence in Dinoflagellates

Some species of dinoflagellates, or very simple algae, have bioluminescent properties (4).  They are responsible for waves lighting up in the dark, or the visible wake behind a boat at night.  Although these algae are very small, when grouped together they can light up bays, waves, seas.  Scientists speculate that they could be responsible for milky seas, or large areas of water that glow in the night (1).  These bioluminescent species of algae are responsible for the light on the surface of the ocean (4).  The intensity of the brightness of the ocean is directly related to the concentration of the dinoflagellates in the water (1).  Many of these creatures are stimulated to produce light via bioluminescence by motion produced by fish or boats.  This is the light one can see in the wake of ships (4).  Due to the high concentration of bioluminescent dinoflagellates in Bioluminescent Bay, this body of water displays intense and brilliant bioluminescent behavior.  When one scares fish in Biobay, a blue light illuminates their trail due to the movement of water (10).  These algae emit light centered at 470 nanometers producing a bluish green light (4). The reaction that occurs in bioluminescent algae is much more simple that fireflies (4). 

(4).

The luciferin in the structure of a tetrapyrrole in the presence of ATP is catalyzed by luciferase to react with O₂.  In this oxidation reaction, a new compound is formed.  Water is a product that is removed leaving an excited molecule that emits a photon (4).  The left over unexcited molecule is no longer useful and often disposed (1). These tiny but bioluminescent organisms are triggered to produce flashes of light by motion.  The motion of waves or small organisms like fish is enough to trigger these dinoflagellates (1).   Heat and pH affect the behavior of these species of algae.  At pH 8 the luciferase is isolated from the luciferin prohibiting a reaction, while at a more acidic pH of 6, bioluminescence occurs (1). Although these dinoflagellates are small, when grouped together they can emit a lot of light.