CORRELATION OF IN SITU FLUORESCENCE AND BIOLUMINESCENCE WITH BIOTA IN THE NEW YORK BIGHT

¹ Grumman Aerospace Corporation, Bethpage, New York 11714
² Adelphi Institute of Marine Sciences, Oakdale, New York 11769

We have described a series of measurements emphasizing the in situ aspects of bioluminescence and fluorescence photometric observations. The fundamental question of isolating a particular organism and determining whether it fluoresces or bioluminesces has not been answered; however, we have observed a phenomenon and sought to deduce the probable causative organisms. It appears that the causative organisms may be inferred by a comparison of the in situ bioluminescence, short-wavelength ultraviolet-produced fluorescence, and long-wavelength ultraviolet-produced fluorescence with the laboratory determined biota distribution.

Using this approach, we find that strong bioluminescence occurs above the thermo/halicline and appears to be caused mainly by Peridiniaceae and Gymnodiniaceae.

The long-wavelength ultraviolet fluorescence is correlated with the total chlorophyll and consequently with the total biomass.

It is evident that in situ bioluminescence and fluorescence instrumentation is not restricted by collection problems, and is not handicapped by the time lapse between sample collections and analyses; it is well suited to long term monitoring of estuarine areas.

To understand the energetics of a bioluminescent reaction, it is necessary to express the transformation in terms of an average light energy output rather than a flash rate.