One of the animals you love to see in the sea are dolphins. These animals are famous for their docility and elegant way to slide in the water. What if they also glow in the dark? Wouldn't it be unusual and beautiful? Well, photographer Patrick Coyne has managed to capture this phenomenon. Too impressive to see in nature. It is a pair of luminescent dolphins in the Pacific that glow with a magical halo in the darkness of the water. It has a scientific explanation. The phenomenon was recorded on the beach in Newport, California.
We were out for hours. When we returned we met two dolphins and the incredibly brilliant show, "Coyne wrote on his Instagram." A few minutes later, we were greeted by a few more, which was crazy. To be honest, I'm still processing all of this … ".
Capture bioluminescence
Coyne says taking pictures like this is a challenge. Bioluminescence is difficult to detect and short-lived. To get such a video, perfect conditions (and of course luck) are required. In coastal regions, bioluminescence is caused by microscopic organisms called dinoflagellates. These marine microorganisms belong to the planktone family and are very sensitive to movement.
So much so that when a predator touches or presses these beings, it emits a flash of light that lasts up to 100 milliseconds. And what if there are a lot of concentrated algae, like in the video? Then the slightest movement is a show and the shining dolphins in the Pacific become works of art.
Dinoflagellates produce two chemicals that produce a brilliant response to anxiety. These are known as the luciferase enzyme and luciferin compound. Together they make dinoflagellate glow at night when they are mechanically changed.
In this phenomenon we get the name "night light". It is known to occur in and from several different marine species. It is often a way to scare predators. As we know, man creates the opposite reaction.
