If you haven’t seen it yet, the internet has been droppingits jaws open with images of the surreal beach in Vaadhoo Island, Raa Atoll,Maldives. This phenomena has been called the “Sea of Stars” due to its glowingblue waves. It’s definitely a fantasy-like experience but before you roll over insearch for that specific beach in Vaadhoo to see the so-called Sea of Stars,better know more about the beautiful little creatures that cause thisunbelievable glowing effect.
This phenomenon is caused by a natural chemical reactionknown as bioluminescence, which occurs when a microorganism in the water isdisturbed by oxygen. These microorganisms or marine microbes are calledphytoplankton and there are a variety of its species that createbioluminescence seen in different parts of the world.
One of the most common phytoplankton that cause marinebioluminescence are known as dinoflagellates. As dinoflagellates float,movement in the surrounding water sends electrical impulses around aproton-filled compartment inside them. The electrical pulses open the voltage-sensitiveproton ion channels into scintillons (the flashing unit insidedinoflagellates). Proteins that flow into the scintillon, while the pH in thecytoplasm changes, creates a series of chemical reactions which activate aprotein called luciferase. Luciferase together with luciferin are combined inscintillons and when oxygen joins them, the neon blue light is created.
Although dinoflagellates have this blue glow, it doesn’tmean that they’re friendly at all. Some dinoflagellates produce toxins harmfulto fish, humans, and other creatures. The blue light is believed to be somesort of a defense for these marine organisms. Predators which eat the glowingdinoflagellates may attract bigger predators because the phytoplankton canstill glow even when inside another creature.
Dinoflagellates aren’t the only ones that producebioluminescence. Other marine animals like krill, deep-sea squids, andanglerfish also have their own ways and reasons for producing their own lights.The Sea of Stars in Vaadhoo, Maldives is just only one of those great siteswhere you can see this happening but it can happen anywhere. Within Maldives,you can also visit the islands of Mudhdhoo and Rangali for this spectacularevent.
The coast of Leucadia, California had bursts of light comingfrom the rolling waves during red tide. Bioluminescence also occurred on theshores of Lakshadweep Islands, India and Mosquito Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico.
The marine phenomenon can be best seen during moonlessnights. Scuba divers can wave their arms or run their fingers on the sand whileunder the sea to cause a reaction on the glowing planktons.
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Post time 13-10-2015 08:23 PM
变色卡
Post time 13-10-2015 08:41 PM
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