Anybody got phytoplankton right now?

[Rick Murchison]

Why?

Because...
---
I have no idea, but you can bet it has to do with one or more of the following:
(1) Defense
(2) Food attraction
(3) Sex
And not necessarily in that order
Rick

 

[Tom Smedley]

Why does it light up when its disturbed?

Although I intentionally misspelled Noctaluca so I could put in the bit about the rock group I apologize. However Google Sez (Google is my friend)

"Bioluminescence: Of the dinoflagellates, approximately 1 to 2% are known to be bioluminescent, where most noctiluca are known to be bioluminescent. The noctiluca produces small flashes of light through the stimulus produced by water movement, which explains why noctiluca shine only when water is agitated. One infinitesimal noctiluca cannot produce a light large enough to be perceived by the optical apparatus however, noctiluca live in large, compact masses which is responsible for the pink or red - even green or blue- tinge seen in the sea, particularly in tides. The colour occurs when the congregation of noctiluca luminesce simultaneously as a result of similar vertical positions. The light produced may serve as an defense mechanism, where those who feed on bioluminescent organisms would make the predator bioluminescent as well, and therefore easily caught- a selective disadvantage."

After all that scientific mambo I just think that it's like a sunrise, a sunset, a meteor shower, a newborn baby, a basketful of puppies, the elusive green flash. Another one of Nature's wonders designed and implemented with the sole purpose of making us smile.

Behave Bersie - you know their reproduction is asexual!!

 

[archman]

Phytoplankton density in the Bahamas is typically rather low. Most places in the subtropics and tropics are like that.

For a bioluminescent "good time", try snorkeling around a mangrove creek. More glowing stuff.