Red Tide Activity 3: What is Bioluminescence?
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Purpose:
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To enable students to better understand what bioluminescence is and
why it is an advantage for some marine organisms to have the ability to
bioluminesce.
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Time Required:
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Safety issues:
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None
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Materials:
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Procedure:
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Either read to the students or have them read the article by Tom Verde
on Mosquito Bay.
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Students need access to the print-out on bioluminescent dinoflagellates.
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Have students answer the questions on the worksheet. They may work individually
or in groups.
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Discuss answers as a group. Encourage discussion.
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Assessment:
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As a class, discuss the answers to the questions.
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Light which is produced as a result of a chemical reaction within specialized
structures in the dinoflagellate cell.
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It acts as a burglar alarm to attract a secondary predator. The primary
predator is more likely to be eaten than the tiny dinoflagellate.
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Chemiluminescent reaction - A chemical called luciferin reacts with
oxygen to produce "cold" light, which gives off no heat.
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No, due to circadian rhythm you get the greatest build up of chemicals
approximately 2 hours into darkness.
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Nutrients, vitamins, currents, light levels, evaporation rates and salinity
all play a role in the health of an area.
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Garbage, waste water runoff, fertilizers and boaters all add foreign
chemicals to the environment which ultimately affect the health of the
dinoflagellates.
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Extensions:
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Further research topics could include:
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Other areas where bioluminescence occurs
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How pollution affects dinoflagellate blooms
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How tourism impacts these coastal areas.
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Internet Links:
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Bioluminescent
dinoflagellates
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Key Words
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luciferin
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circadian rhythm