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They are among the most unique looking animals in the oceans -- deep-sea creatures. Seemingly out of the latest sci-fi movie from Hollywood, these animals rely on a trait that’s incredibly rare on land (i.e. fireflies) but very common in the oceans -- bioluminescence. While we know that many sea creatures can actually “light up” to hide their shadows, we have no idea how they’re able to so closely match the light around them with their own bioluminescence.
That’s what a team of researchers, funded by a National Science Foundation grant, are setting out to determine. Pictured here is what the research team will be focusing on: the evolution of bioluminescence and vision in deep-sea shrimp (Oplophoridae and Sergestidae), as well as how these primitive animals can so precisely control the intensity of their bioluminescence to match the downwelling light.Image credit: Tamara Frank, Nova Southeastern University
