Some species of sea cucumbers glow in the dark, as do jellyfish, fungi, sea worms, and fireflies. A research team from Japan’s Nagoya University has discovered that 10 known deep-sea species are bioluminescent in their natural habitat.Here are the findings: Part of a new textbook called Sea cucumber world Published on November 10th.
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There are approximately 1,200 species Of sea cucumber. These marine invertebrates are found in every ocean on Earth, but are most commonly found in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. They usually live in shallow waters, but some species live thousands of feet deep.largely closely related These benthic creatures, including sea urchins, sea stars (also known as sea stars), crinoids, and sand dollars, range in size from as small as an inch to as long as 6 feet. Some sea cucumbers are also known to shoot sticky goo like tangled noodles from their butts when provoked.
A new textbook takes readers deep underwater and discusses the bioluminescent properties of some of these sea cucumbers. According to NOAA: The light emitted by bioluminescent animals is produced by energy released from chemical reactions inside the organism, and that energy can also be emitted by the organism. Its functionality is still shrouded in mystery, but it is commonly used as follows: To scare away or avoid predators, find food, and as a means of communication.
The authors used previous research on sea cucumbers to highlight the differences between the rather unassuming shallow-water species and its brightly glowing deep-sea relatives. The book also charts the evolution of sea cucumbers from the Jurassic period, about 180 million years ago, to the present day.
To understand the 10 types of bioluminescent sea cucumbers, the research team Deployed remote controlled vehicles Approximately 3,280 feet below sea level in Monterey Bay, California. The vehicle was equipped with a highly sensitive arm that was robotically controlled from the ship. The light shone from the sea cucumber’s head to its tail and then back, unlike the more uniform bioluminescence seen in specimens taken aboard ships. It resembles a wave.
According to the authors, previously unknown luminescence in these 10 deep-sea species suggests that sea cucumbers are more diverse than scientists once thought. The discovery involves members of the order Morpadia, which were previously thought to be non-luminous.
Although these sea cucumbers live in some of the deepest parts of the earth, they are still not immune to overfishing, especially drilling and mining activities that threaten their ecosystems.
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“As exploration and exploitation of the deep sea advances, information on deep sea biodiversity and ecology such as this book is important because it allows us to assess the impact of human activities on deep sea ecosystems.” Textbook co-author Manabu Bessho Uehara, a biochemist at Nagoya University stated in a statement. โHeavy metal contamination from mud discarded during drilling operations and noise from motors that interfere with voice communications are important issues, but bioluminescent signals are disrupted, such as when light is blocked by drilling mud, There is a need to understand the importance of bioluminescence in the deep sea floor and find ways to lead to sustainable development.”
Studying the flora and fauna that live in such extreme locations can also provide valuable knowledge about all life on Earth. It will help discover new viruses that breed in hydrothermal vents and their causes. Earth’s climate and carbon cycle.
โI believe that understanding the deep sea ecosystem and the interactions between organisms will lead to a deeper understanding of life itself on Earth,โ says Bessho-Uehara.
