Lingulodinium polyedrum
Encyclopedia
Lingulodinium polyedrum is a species of dinoflagellate
, described by Professor Peter Franks of Scripps Institute of Oceanography as brussel sprouts covered in wooden armor that move around a lot. The organism has two forms, the classic thecate shell, and a cyst.
Synonyms
L. polyedrum produces brilliant displays of bioluminescence in warm coastal waters. Seen in Southern California
regularly since at least 1901. Some samples have been found to produce saxitoxin
s and yessotoxin
s, however, San Diego surfers and open ocean swimmers are often in the surf zone during red tides, suggesting any toxin present is too dilute to have effects.
They are easily visible under 100x magnification (use the 10x or "scanning" objective on most compound microscopes) and their scintillons luminesce in response to surface tension and acidity.
These blooms contain sufficient concentrations of dinoflagellates that they can provide excellent experimental material for students. A jug of water can be collected from the surf and brought into a completely dark classroom. After a minute or so of complete darkness, the organisms will fluoresce when the bottle is agitated. Vinegar, baking soda, and vegetable oil can be added in drops to see if they affect the luminescence.
Though brilliant to the naked eye, the bioluminescence is relatively dim for photographic purposes. For example, the photograph at right required a 3 second exposure at f4 at an ISO of 3200, a 210 mm telephoto lens, and the photographer had to hold his hand over the bottom half of the lens to block out the ambient light reflecting off of seafoam in the foreground.
One fantastic experience is that the organisms are in the beach sand too, so when one walks on the beach at night when they are blooming, they luminesce in response to the shock of one's foot hitting the ground.
Wanted: microscopy images and video of L. polyedrum.
Dinoflagellate
The dinoflagellates are a large group of flagellate protists. Most are marine plankton, but they are common in fresh water habitats as well. Their populations are distributed depending on temperature, salinity, or depth...
, described by Professor Peter Franks of Scripps Institute of Oceanography as brussel sprouts covered in wooden armor that move around a lot. The organism has two forms, the classic thecate shell, and a cyst.
Synonyms
- Gonyaulax polyedra
- Lingulodinium machaerophorum
- Hystrichosphaeridium machaerophorum
L. polyedrum produces brilliant displays of bioluminescence in warm coastal waters. Seen in Southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
regularly since at least 1901. Some samples have been found to produce saxitoxin
Saxitoxin
Saxitoxin is a neurotoxin naturally produced by certain species of marine dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria Saxitoxin (STX) is a neurotoxin naturally produced by certain species of marine dinoflagellates (Alexandrium sp., Gymnodinium sp., Pyrodinium sp.) and cyanobacteria Saxitoxin (STX) is a...
s and yessotoxin
Yessotoxin
Yessotoxins are a group of lipophilic sulphated polyester) compounds that are structurally related to brevetoxins and ciguatoxins. They are produced by a number of planktonic algal species particularly the dinoflagellates, Lingulodinium polyedrum, Gonylaulax spiniferia and Protoceratium...
s, however, San Diego surfers and open ocean swimmers are often in the surf zone during red tides, suggesting any toxin present is too dilute to have effects.
They are easily visible under 100x magnification (use the 10x or "scanning" objective on most compound microscopes) and their scintillons luminesce in response to surface tension and acidity.
These blooms contain sufficient concentrations of dinoflagellates that they can provide excellent experimental material for students. A jug of water can be collected from the surf and brought into a completely dark classroom. After a minute or so of complete darkness, the organisms will fluoresce when the bottle is agitated. Vinegar, baking soda, and vegetable oil can be added in drops to see if they affect the luminescence.
Though brilliant to the naked eye, the bioluminescence is relatively dim for photographic purposes. For example, the photograph at right required a 3 second exposure at f4 at an ISO of 3200, a 210 mm telephoto lens, and the photographer had to hold his hand over the bottom half of the lens to block out the ambient light reflecting off of seafoam in the foreground.
One fantastic experience is that the organisms are in the beach sand too, so when one walks on the beach at night when they are blooming, they luminesce in response to the shock of one's foot hitting the ground.
Wanted: microscopy images and video of L. polyedrum.