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Bioluminescence 2009: Living Light on the Deep Sea Floor

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: August 03, 2026 at 12:13 AM | Dataset Last Updated: January 01, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Bioluminescence is a fascinating phenomenon that is relatively rare on land but is common in all the world's oceans. At least 12 animal phyla, as well as Eubacteria and Protista, have marine bioluminescent representatives (Herring 2002). Although bioluminescence has been extensively studied in the pelagic zone (water column), most information on its occurrence in the deep-sea (>200 m) benthos is fragmentary and anecdotal, a result of the difficulty in retrieving intact benthic organisms from trawls and dredges. Most specimens arrive at the surface dead or moribund, or are not examined for their bioluminescence potential before being preserved. While the ability to bioluminesce can be inferred from the presence of photophores or weak bioluminesce in moribund organisms, the true potential of bioluminescent systems must be examined on living, undamaged animals.

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