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Satellites Spot Oceans Aglow with Trillions of Organisms

nytimes.com

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Re: Satellites Spot Oceans Aglow with Trillions of Organisms

#11

Post by Borrible »

_Gyan_ wrote: post #7
Borrible wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some do it to invite the dinner. A lot more to invite mating partners.

A profitable strategy only if it attracts a lot more prey than predators.

In the case of deep-sea predators, there appears to be less bigger consumptive biomass than consumable biomass at present.

Currently, it is probably more advantageous for some luminous predators there than the risk of being eaten. The optical perception organs are probably reaching an evolutionary dead end down there. Better eyesight isn't an option.

But everything is in flux, it just depends on the time frame. Magnetic field perception might be an option. Are there deep-sea predators that hunt by magnetic sense?

But it's still cheaper to attract the food than to track it in the dark.

How about auditive perception?

Is 'pinging' the prey an option?

Well, one would need some organ that could be converted to ping, which fishes don't have.

Re: Satellites Spot Oceans Aglow with Trillions of Organisms

#12

Post by bongoman37 »

londons_explore wrote: post #4

It's surprising to me how many creatures have eyes, yet how few can create light. Creating light isn't awfully hard biologically - there are lots of reactions that can create (mostly monochromatic) light. Even humans make tiny yet detectable amounts of light as a side effect of some cellular level chemical reactions. It does use quite a lot of energy, but illumination to levels similar to moonlight is still tiny comp…

Maybe more might if there wasn't a giant ball in the sky spraying photons.

Re: Satellites Spot Oceans Aglow with Trillions of Organisms

#13

Post by yardie »

xattt wrote: post #10
yardie wrote: post #9

We have great pictures and videos of our time at sea. But one of the things I could not photograph was bioluminescence at night. I assumed phytoplankton was fairly spread out, globally. But one of the most active areas we sailed in was off the coast of Tenerife. The water was literally glowing with activity. And things staring back at me, swimming alongside us. Sadly, none of the cameras I brought could operate at su…

How long ago was this? Sensor technology has progressed significantly within the last 15 or so years. There’s a docuseries on Netflix that captured night scenes, including algae glow.

2016.

I've watched videos in the past that showed bioluminescence blooms. The equipment was highly specialized (low lux, large 2" CCDs). You're not going to find that type of camera fro <$1000 in your typically electronics store.

Re: Satellites Spot Oceans Aglow with Trillions of Organisms

#14

Post by ford_o »

jack_riminton wrote: post #5
londons_explore wrote: post #4

It's surprising to me how many creatures have eyes, yet how few can create light. Creating light isn't awfully hard biologically - there are lots of reactions that can create (mostly monochromatic) light. Even humans make tiny yet detectable amounts of light as a side effect of some cellular level chemical reactions. It does use quite a lot of energy, but illumination to levels similar to moonlight is still tiny comp…

I guess most living things put more energy into not being seen so they're not eaten

This remind me of the dark forest hypothesis.

Re: Satellites Spot Oceans Aglow with Trillions of Organisms

#15

Post by zamalek »

xattt wrote: post #10
yardie wrote: post #9

We have great pictures and videos of our time at sea. But one of the things I could not photograph was bioluminescence at night. I assumed phytoplankton was fairly spread out, globally. But one of the most active areas we sailed in was off the coast of Tenerife. The water was literally glowing with activity. And things staring back at me, swimming alongside us. Sadly, none of the cameras I brought could operate at su…

How long ago was this? Sensor technology has progressed significantly within the last 15 or so years. There’s a docuseries on Netflix that captured night scenes, including algae glow.

I had the same issue in 2019 with a GoPro during bioluminescence kayaking. Cellphones seem to handle it slightly better.

Re: Satellites Spot Oceans Aglow with Trillions of Organisms

#16

Post by aeontech »

Borrible wrote: post #11
_Gyan_ wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A profitable strategy only if it attracts a lot more prey than predators.

In the case of deep-sea predators, there appears to be less bigger consumptive biomass than consumable biomass at present. Currently, it is probably more advantageous for some luminous predators there than the risk of being eaten. The optical perception organs are probably reaching an evolutionary dead end down there. Better eyesight isn't an option. But everything is in flux, it just depends on the time frame. Magne…

You might find electrolocation in fish interesting :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroreception

Re: Satellites Spot Oceans Aglow with Trillions of Organisms

#17

Post by theandrewbailey »

yardie wrote: post #9

We have great pictures and videos of our time at sea. But one of the things I could not photograph was bioluminescence at night. I assumed phytoplankton was fairly spread out, globally. But one of the most active areas we sailed in was off the coast of Tenerife. The water was literally glowing with activity. And things staring back at me, swimming alongside us. Sadly, none of the cameras I brought could operate at su…

We? Our?

Re: Satellites Spot Oceans Aglow with Trillions of Organisms

#18

Post by tigerlily »

theandrewbailey wrote: post #17
yardie wrote: post #9

We have great pictures and videos of our time at sea. But one of the things I could not photograph was bioluminescence at night. I assumed phytoplankton was fairly spread out, globally. But one of the most active areas we sailed in was off the coast of Tenerife. The water was literally glowing with activity. And things staring back at me, swimming alongside us. Sadly, none of the cameras I brought could operate at su…

We? Our?

Could be GP and partner.

Re: Satellites Spot Oceans Aglow with Trillions of Organisms

#20

Post by yardie »

theandrewbailey wrote: post #17
yardie wrote: post #9

We have great pictures and videos of our time at sea. But one of the things I could not photograph was bioluminescence at night. I assumed phytoplankton was fairly spread out, globally. But one of the most active areas we sailed in was off the coast of Tenerife. The water was literally glowing with activity. And things staring back at me, swimming alongside us. Sadly, none of the cameras I brought could operate at su…

We? Our?

Me, family, and crew.

Contrary to what you may believe insurance does not cover solo sailing if you are further than x miles, let's say 50nm, off shore. Most sailing stories it's usually a we.

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