A bioluminescent microorganism that is called Noctiluca scintillans caused an amazing, seemingly unnatural color blue to glow in the waters of an Australian Lake.
This lake is called Gippsland Lake. It created an alien, mystical sort of
glow in the waters, a glow that was an amazing sight to see and photograph.
The breed Noctiluca scintillans also go by the names sea sparkle, sea fire, and sea ghost. They are dinoflagellates, which is a type of marine plankton that usually have two flagella.
They feed on algae, plankton and bacteria. It was an increase in algae that led to the explosion of the Noctiluca scintillans population. The amazing blue glow actually serves a practical purpose for the little microorganism.
It uses its glow as a defense mechanism. When it senses a predator nearby, it glows to attract an even larger predator to kill the predator that might eat it.
Clearly, there is always a bigger fish, and the Noctiluca scintillans frequently uses that fact to it's advantage.
The defense mechanism becomes a wonder of nature, capable of being drawn out by the wake of a boat or splashing water. For more amazing pictures, check out the source
In the Australian summer of 2008/2009, a hauntingly beautiful phenomenon illuminated the Gippsland Lakes and created scenes that those present will never forget. An unusually high concentration of Noctiluca scintillans, a bioluminescent microorganism, turned the water a bright, glowing, ethereal blue. Photographer Phil Hart was there to document the amazing display.
Noctiluca scintillans – also known as “sea sparkle,” “sea fire,” “sea ghost” and any number of other delightfully romantic-sounding names – are a species of dinoflagellate that feed on algae, plankton and bacteria. In December 2008, a high concentration of blue-green algae called Synechococcus prompted a higher-than-usual population of N. scintillans in the Gippsland Lakes.
When Phil Hart embarked on his annual trek to the lakes, he and his companions discovered a blue luminescence in the water unlike anything any of them had ever seen before. N. scintillans uses its bioluminescence as a defense mechanism, lighting up when it senses a predator coming near. The ghostly glow attracts even larger predators to eat the first predator, keeping the N. scintillans safe to glow another day.
Hart and his friends used this defense mechanism to create some truly incredible photographs. Using a long exposure on his camera, Hart had his friends splash in the water to light up and spread the bioluminescent organisms around. In other photos, Hart used a fast lens and threw sand and pebbles into the water to activate the glow.
(all images via: Phil Hart)
The Melbourne-based photographer marvels at how fortunate he was to see this phenomenon. Not only is it a rare sight at this particular location; it is highly unusual to see this concentration of bioluminescent organisms anywhere in the world. The magical event was truly a breathtaking displays of nature’s unexpected beauty.
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