Great art is inspired by great things. And the Museum of Fine Arts obtains only great art (hence the "Fine"). The latest exhibit at the MFA is a collection of works by the glassblower Dale Chihuly, whose multicolored renderings are nothing short of psychedelic. Some of his most beautiful art is inspired by the bioluminescent jellyfish that light up the otherwise dark and murky lower seas
So we've established that these jellyfish are beautiful. (For more amazing pictures, check out the articleby Environmental Graffiti).
But what is this amazing display all about?
Environmental Graffiti offers four reasons for the bioluminescense of deep sea jellyfish. Firstly, small creatures-- little fish-- see the light and are amazed. Enthralled, as was Mr. Chihuly. So they approach the gently undulating jellyfish and before they know it they are stung and eaten.
Secondly, creating one's own light can prevent one from being seen. If a jellyfish (probably in the mesopelagic region where some sunlight indeed penetrates) is seen from below and is giving off its own light, this light can easily be confused as simple natural light...the jellyfish's invisibility cloak.
Third, bioluminescence can be a scare tactic. Jellyfishfacts.net affirms this in their article on bioluminescent jellyfish. When touched, a jellyfish immediately lights up, to create confusion (not unlike a squid's inking)--this is the result of an instantaneous chemical reaction that occurs with direct stimulation. Furthermore, the potentially dangerous critter who encounters a lit jellyfish will become, as it were, self conscious, and will try, as it were, to step out of the spotlight--for such predators are themselves prey. They'd rather slink around in the dark than be seen. So they flee the scene.
Finally, bioluminescent jellyfish utilize their lighting up to communicate with other jellyfish. It is interesting to note that jellyfish are eyeless. Thus, the light is entirely functional--not recreational. But I take that's a given.
Now for the process of biolumination: luciferinase oxidizes luciferin, with a bluish photoprotein being the result. In 1961, however, the GFP, or green florescent protein was discovered in the jellyfish aequorea victoria, native to the waters of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of North America. According to an article published by the University of Washington, this GFP has been cloned and extensively studied in labs since its discovery fifty years ago.
In fact, we forgot to mention the fifth function of bioluminescense in jellyfish: beauty for human consumption. Enjoy the video:
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