Bioluminescence and Luminescent Fish in the Strait of Messina From the Mesoscaph Forel

Baguet, F.;Piccard, J.;Christophe, B.;Maréchal, Georges
(1983) Marine Biology : international journal on life in oceans and coastal waters — Vol. 74, n° 3, p. 221-229 (1983)

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Authors
  • Baguet, F.UCLouvain
    Author
  • Piccard, J.
    Author
  • Christophe, B.
    Collaborator
  • Maréchal, GeorgesUCLouvain
    Author
Abstract
(en) Light irradiance v/as measured at 430, 4'70 and 500 nm aboard the mesoscaph "Forel" in the Strait of Messina from the surface to 550 m depth in May 1979. The underwater light regime is partly due to the downwelling residual sunlight and partly to bioluminescence. An intense bioluminescence is localized at about 450 m at midday and moves upwards in the evening to reach an area extending from 100 m depth to the surface late in the evening. Two types of luminescence were observed; one associated with luminescent organisms and another diffuse, probably due to bacteria. Three types of luminescent fish were recognized, namely Argyropelecus hemigymnus, myctophids and Cyclothone braueri, and their time and space distribution were studied. While myctophids were encountered from the surface (21:00hrs) to 550m depth (16:00 hrs), A. hemigymnus were only observed between 180m (19:45hrs) and 500m (12:15hrs), and C. braueri between 330 m (16:00 hrs) and 500 m (19:00 hrs). The results do not show a significant relation between the absolute ambient light intensity and the time or the depth where the fish were observ
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Citations

Baguet, F., Piccard, J., & Maréchal, G. (1983). Bioluminescence and Luminescent Fish in the Strait of Messina From the Mesoscaph Forel. Marine Biology : international journal on life in oceans and coastal waters, 74(3), 221-229. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403446 (Original work published 1983)