Why Is (Almost) All Bioluminescence in the Ocean?

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Patreon: / realscience
Twitter: / stephaniesamma
Instagram: / stephaniesammann
Credits:
Narrator: Stephanie Sammann
Writer: Lorraine Boissoneault
Editor: Dylan Hennessy (www.behance.ne...)
Editor: David O'Sullivan
Illustrator: Elfy Chiang (www.elfylandst...)
Animator: Kirtan Patel (kpatart.com/il...)
Animator: Mike Ridolfi (www.moboxgraph...)
Sound: Graham Haerther (haerther.net)
Thumbnail: Simon Buckmaster ( / forgottentowel )
Producer: Brian McManus ( / realengineering )
References:
[1] www.mbari.org/...
[2] journals.plos....
[3] www.frontiersi...
[4] www.ncbi.nlm.n...
[5] www.science.or...
[6] link.springer....
[7] www.pnas.org/d...
[8] www.fisheries....
[9] latzlab.ucsd.e...
[10] www.cell.com/c...
[11] medarbetarport...
[12] sitn.hms.harva...
[13] cdn.intechopen...
[14] royalsocietypu...
[15] www.nature.com...
[16] www.pnas.org/d...
[17] link.springer....
[18] link.springer....
[19] www.cambridge....

[@Kewbz]

Stephanie has one of the most calming and best communicative narrator voices in the domain of science videos on KZbin. Forever a fan - keep up the great content!

[@jcking3156]

She could give David Attenborough a run for his money

[@bitters879]

I completely agree, my daughter and I can't help but just feel so relaxed while watching these.

[@Splarkszter]

AAA tier documentary. And it's also very very entertaining to watch. Love it.

[@louithrottler]

I love the way she says "Britain" lol

[@bernalgvx]

I Love her

[@Paulie8K]

When the ocean has more "alien" looking creatures than most alien movies I've watched. Amazing video as always. Keep it up!

[@anthonyproffitt5341]

Extraterrestrials in movies generally are inspired by creatures on earth.

[@XenoRaptor-98765]

That’s One of many inspirations of sci-fi movies and Avatar (2009) is one of them.

[@NcxX-c8f]

If you want to see some cool alien biology, check out the Curious Archive channel: there’s a lot of videos on speculative biology projects, which include some truly bizarre alien life.

[@XenoRaptor-98765]

@@NcxX-c8f I already subscribed to that channel.

[@lj6284]

@@anthonyproffitt5341everything is inspired from earth, after all we don’t have many resources outside of here to go from, lol

[@carlhenderson1669]

I love how the more science learns about our world, the more they realize all those people from the past (like the sailors seeing glowing seas) weren't just crazy, superstitious, or liars; they were actually having experiences that the science at the time couldn't explain. It makes me wonder what things we take for granted as knowledge right now will be changed as science continues to learn new things.

[@jatmo6991]

Cthulhu is real. Noted.

[@fesimco4339]

Sounds like someone believes in UFO sightings

[@jantjehouten5806]

watch out, religious nuts are coming

[@Souledex]

@@fesimco4339 Sounds like somebody should. they are unexplained anyways - probably best to assume most folks weren't just making shit up all the time.

[@fesimco4339]

@@Souledex It depends how many presumptions are being made. People see things they can't explain and that's fine. The people who "make shit up" are the ones who go on to say, I can't explain it so it has some chance of being extra terrestrial / supernatural.

[@RoGeorgeRoGeorge]

Another reason could be that in deep waters there is less/no ambient light coming from Sun/Moon, so even the faintest glow is visible, while on the surface much more intense light will be needed to be produced in order to make it stand out in the existing light background. High intensity light is not possible by bioluminiscence. On the land it makes more sense to reflect the existing ambient light than to compete against it by producing your own.

[@juanausensi499]

I think that's pretty reasonable.

[@ikawba00]

Best logical answer here ^

[@loganbeverly7147]

Great point. I also wonder how the light pollution caused by mankind has or will effect bioluminescence on land.

[@nolanthedude]

This is probably my favorite science channel ever!! The production value is insane, and I’m hopeful that one day you might be able to get your own show!!

[@abiyedakoru1992]

She owns the channel

[@w0ttheh3ll]

Navies also experimented with counter-illumination for warships in the 20th century, but the technique isn't so useful today because sailors use radar instead of their eyes to find other ships (and at much longer distances).

[@realscience]

That's interesting!

[@mastershooter64]

counter-illumination using radar instead of light?

[@danielharman130]

@@mastershooter64 most likely using regular lights to break up the silhouette of a ship on the horizon during the day as they are easiest to spot when they are "sticking up" from the water and "painted" against the sky.

[@curiodyssey3867]

Counter illumination? How exactly does one go about achieving this? How does it work?

[@w0ttheh3ll]

@@curiodyssey3867 exactly the same way as the fish do it. you put a lot of lights on your ship and dim them to make it the same brightness as the background, basically an adjustable grey paint.

[@jamesjensen6155]

I remember my first experience with bioluminescence on Rockaway beach NY a jelly fish had just washed up on shore and I could not believe my eyes ....It looked like a miniature space ship lights flashing and going around like some digital system. I was mesmerized

[@IronForgedUnderPressure]

DMT!!!

[@ToneyCrimson]

I have always dreamed of a forest full of trees and mushrooms that has bioluminescence, it would be so beautiful! Like a fantasy world.

[@attemptedunkindness3632]

I live there. Southern Illinois.; far from citypeople. During the summer, fireflies, glow worms, and glowing green and orange fungus on trees at night with owls and whatnot. During the day I'll have chipmunks and colorful songbirds flying around me as my unshaven hungover ass shoos away the damn squirrels and deer from the creek I like to piss in each morning. Enchanted fantasy forests do exist, but they typically do have ogres guarding them from city folk; I am one of them. Stay away.

[@kavid8120]

like Avatar

[@reedbender1179]

@@attemptedunkindness3632 Love your work-keep it up ! 😎

[@zeo4481]

Must be in a pretty dark place tho

[@modernvivienleigh]

Walk around with a UV light !

[@sarthakdeore1815]

What a coincidence, this afternoon I was searching for how do fireflies produce light just out of curiosity. And just now you upload a whole video dedicated to bioluminescence!

[@BeautifulAlaska]

Another masterful and informative video! In my opinion this is the best biology Channel on KZbin. Exciting subjects and content, beautiful imagery, excellent writing, with great narration.

[@FantasyYeet]

What amazes me is the fish are self aware enough to turn on and off. Like "hey its kinda dark, better turn on some lights"

[@SouthernEli]

That was an incandescently smooth transition from scintillating content to illuminating ad. Well done.

[@thelonefedora]

Perfection, this is a wonderful new series, keep up the fantastic work

[@BioFake1]

6:50 Sure, reefs account for 1% of the environnment underwater but they also concentrate about 80% of the total biodiversity in the oceans if I can remember those stats right.

[@vishalroy7586]

😲

[@TheEddgreen]

If I remember right reefs are full of bioluminescence too, shrimps clams and cephalopods like cuttlefish.

[@earthling_parth]

I think it's for the diversity of animals and not the actual biomass of sea animals 😅

[@BioFake1]

@@earthling_parth I'm not talking about biomass, I am talking about biodiversity

[@FupaDoncic]

A Mantis Shrimp can see spectrums and colors we cannot. Imagine these animals. We don’t get to dissect them half the time they decompose by the time we bring them up

[@lilysceeliljeaniemoonlight]

Yeah Mantis Shrimp are fantastic cute and get this gangster like crustacea. They not only do these wonderful traits you've pointed out, like vision that evolved for a shrimp is awesome, another absolute gang banger trait they do is when they i thinkby memory it was warding off predators, (they have one big claw and one smaller claw) when they use the claw that happens to have evolved to the perfect specimen of shrimp claws they do a snap with the claw that is so loud (this from a creature hundreds of times smaller than it's predators whom couldn't pull it of if their lives depended on it) just a open shut that is one of the loudest noises / booms that any ocean creatures can do even louder (different wave length vibrational sounds) thsn a whale song that also travel.tje furthest of all ocean creatures but on a decibel meter in the immediate surrounds the shrimps snaps louder! When they do the booming Snap that also is that loud a sonic boom shockwave is created by it, a bubble of air,(i watched it happen in slow motion. Amazing) evolves around the claw and as it opens it's claw the bubble enhances and the claw traps the bubble until it does the snap shut of it's claw which is equivalent pound for pound of one the top apex predators of the food chain, great White or saltwater crocodile, snapping their unrivaled and powerfull jaws and teeth down on its creature it's having for dinner. The mantis shrimp claw snap is supposedly and scientifically foundtp be louder than creatures much bigger and more powerful, but that's because I'm sure it's a defensive Manöver to appear to be powerful and strong enough to keep away from. As the sea predators of the shrimp which are too numerous to even list think better stay away that thing that looks like food is too strong and the shockwave shocks and deters them away. Again after dangers averted, mighty mantis shrimp just goes back to hunting ~ manageably caught bigger sized morsels of fish perfectly still and silent in a place it's eyes on long their long stalks can keep lookout for their food.as no-

[@lilysceeliljeaniemoonlight]

They're waiting for "crunch time" boomtown 4 seafood restaurant will do as Mantis says or the man go boom!" LoL On doco i saw them in no word of schite they walk around sometimes running or scuttling should i say/ they get around with that one elephantiasis huge claw up and out ready as a bribe or threat kinda that their not going to dilly dally when it comes to safety, food and the power of shocking creatures into submission or better still shocking them onto their dinner menus and plates. I fuggin ' luv em. They're the boss of their domain

[@FupaDoncic]

@@lilysceeliljeaniemoonlight used to work at a aquarium store, sometimes its a club with the peacock mantis. Would feed them snails and they would flick them open. Sometimes lay on their back and spin them around. Extremely smart creatures. Would follow out tongs(not sticking our hands in there) and grab them when hungry. Or flick sand at us when they are molting. Feel bad as my ethnicity eats them.

[@zacharywong483]

Fantastic video Real Science team! Loved the fact that you touched on so many different examples of bioluminescence!

[@terramater]

That's so interesting! Deep sea creatures are so fascinating! Our crew filmed how scientists explore the life of two deep sea creatures: barreleye fish and vampire squid. The technology scientists use to learn about these surreal-looking animals is so advanced, and the findings are also surprising!

[@earthling_parth]

Heyyy! Animalogic, Terra Mater, and Real Science the trifecta of awesome content on wildlife and biology ❤️

[@vincentnguyen6884]

I love this channel! Not only the content but also how smooth the transition to the ads are lol. Could definitely make you feel like the video was made for the ad. xD

[@MarkofWisdom]

huh, I hadn't noticed the 'R13' little thing that pops up occasionally, and it's the references used for when claims are made to support those claims. Neat to include them directly in the video so people can more easily double check for themselves

[@posmoo9790]

because its dark

[@125conman]

Thanks

[@thisisjuleka6027]

​@@125conman thanks for your thanks

[@furiousinsects6386]

​​@@thisisjuleka6027Thanks for thaning the thanks 💜💪

[@BuzzBuzzImaWasp]

You may be on to something

[@davddrat]

this is exactly what i thought when i saw the thumbnail

[@AnimeSunglasses]

7:49 Fish: OM NOM I'M GONNA GETCHU! Siphonophore: I CAST "SUMMON BIGGER FISH!"

[@skylarheitzman7958]

Listening to this got me thinking that I would not at all be surprised if prior to the Cretaceous impact there had been a decent of not a lot more bioluminescence evolved on land, that then got reset by the mass extinction. Whereas in the oceans it seems to have carried on. That's just the random thought that popped into mind on why there may be such a difference.

[@BallisticDamages]

Now you have me imagining mats of bioluminescent microbes clinging on to the ice-water interface on Europa, like its own imitation of the unseen stars hidden beyond kilometers of ice.

[@kaas2597]

I love all glowing things. Thank you for such a beautiful and informative video, I learned a lot.

[@Emelineeeeeee]

It’s interesting how animals use light. I’d love to see a video about fluorescent animals!

[@Daniel-nl5un]

Here's an idea: light travels much further through air than through water. So, let's say you're a glowing animal. On land, you would be visible for all accross a much longer distance attracting both pray and predator. In water, your beacon's range is much shorter. Let's say you're hidden in a hole somewhere, then only fish going past that hole will see you (not the giant sperm whale swimming a hundred feet above you). Or if you're using bioluminescence to see, you need it just to see where you're going, you don't need it for others to see you from long distances

[@jchastain789]

Interesting thought.

[@nickmccurdie1214]

Well that is how natural selection works partially.

[@salt-emoji]

I mean this as the best possible compliment. The narrator's voice knocks me out faster and deeper than any other I've found. Thank youm

[@marrrtin]

I think it is because light propagates differently in air than in water. As said here, at a certain depth of the water column there is very little light coming from above. Meanwhile on land, even on a moonless night, there is still a degree of ambient light from the stars, which is enough for animals which have evolved the requisite eyesight such as owls and cats. As for fireflies, as far as I can tell from my observation, that light is used only for sexual selection and has no other utility for the firefly.

[@mazizk08]

Amazing video! I used this video in my class with my young students. I was wondering what are the sound tracks used in this video, especially the opening one.

[@naviirysplays3549]

Seeing bioluminescence back then must have been so magical to people

[@mastergecko1178]

This is not meant to be a criticism, only an observation I’ve made. Most content creators will show footage of comb jellies when they are talking about bioluminescence while in actuality the mesmerizing light coming from them is a product of refraction instead of bioluminescence.

[@JoseGranny]

12:48 probably the coolest thing I've seen on KZbin this year!

[@barelbarthis5109]

This video took me back to my childhood reading a book about this adaptation, thank you for the nostalgia

[@_Stalc_]

There are also bioluminescent limpets besides the glow worms in New Zealand, forgot if that counts as fresh water. It functions as a deterrent after an attack, rather than aposematic display like fireflies.

[@iainmalcolm9583]

We live in a truly weird and wonderful world.

[@louisvictor3473]

To me, the most solid hypothesis that the fact land offers so many hidding/disguising opportunities is what "prevents" bioluminescense from evolving. There is no evolutionary pressure for being able to make your own luminous disguise or danger signaling when merely finding shelter while sleeping and being active when it is bright so your passive pigmentation does the same job. Same for luring, all daily light patterns are easier to achieve and provide the same utility. You can also more effectively use smells and pheromones, as air carries particles and disperses other gases, but doesn't dissolves things and it is just moves faster. All of that basically renders land bioluminescense only a very niche advantage.

[@Davethreshold]

Once again, AMAZING! Thank you for all of your hard work.❤

[@anoopsahal1202]

Your documentaries are excellent! I use knowledge from them as conversation starters. Some of your statements are teleological and this sits uneasily when I listen. 😊

[@attemptedunkindness3632]

I have all three terrestrial bioluminescent species around here: glow worms, fire flies, green and orange glowing mushrooms. For over three decades, every other year we get another family moving in and clear cutting a place for their house nearby, and every year the woods glow less and less. I don't lament the encroaching darkness of my home forest from the bioluminescent animals fleeing nearly as much as the encroaching light pollution from my fellow man.

[@DavidCC35]

@Minuteearth made a video on this topic a few weeks ago and focused more on three or so hypotheses to answer the question as to why bioluminecence eveolved in the ocean so much. Highly recommend it in addition to this video

[@prehanramsamy6728]

Because on land, we go through a day night cycle. At the bottom of the ocean, it's always dark.

[@wesadams5128]

I've seen fireflies in Texas twice when I visited and it was the coolest. I've never seen a living creature that glows in real life before that. I could only imagine how mesmerizing some of those ocean bioluminescent creatures are. I bet it'd be fun to see on mushrooms

[@AlexNur07]

Evolution of the species is indeed remarkable.

[@michaljanovsky8966]

Such an awesome vid! love this format.

[@scionofpluto3420]

Most wonderful video of yours yet. I really loved this.

[@cyaneamusic.]

love the segway :)) spot on. Great writing

[@Bamgeutcutiepie]

As an avatar fan. It is cool to see cameron getting a lot of ideas for Pandora from earth. Bioluminescence creature in the deep sea definitely had to be the idea for the Navi spots on their skin that glow. And how all luminescence on the planet is a thing you can find on earth too. Our earth is so beautiful.

[@Jamoyurr]

12:47 bro that made my heart drop like crazy

[@meanbeanmachine]

Before watching the video, I would expect that bioluminescence is more common in the ocean is that living on land gives you more sensory/communication options that work well in the dark. I don't think infrared light transmits in water, but it does in air. Another reason is that there are regions of the ocean that are ALWAYS dark, whereas on land there is almost everywhere alternating light/dark phases. This means that strategy that involves sensing/communicating with light will elaborate on existing visual capabilities (useful during the day) rather than evolve novel luminescent features (which might hypothetically help at night). As for the land animals that live in total darkness beneath the ground, these are almost always animals that evolved from ancestral species with well-developed vision. The transition to the underground niche involved the loss of visual abilities in favor of other sensory modalities (e.g. naked mole rats, star nosed mole rats)

[@louithrottler]

Segue of the year award (2022) : Stephanie Sammam.

[@TheBlaaaaaaahhh]

Now I want to go to Australia to see these glowing caves

[@perafilozof]

Great topic! Thank your, btw did you change editors? The music is off not on the same level as in previous videos.

[@codiefitz3876]

It’s dark. I’ll be here all week.

[@Galejro]

I have an idea that it is the discrepancy of medium carriage distance, it's why someone could also ask why are most marine animals quiet. On land light carries super far, but sound does not, it's why land animals are vocal, but in the sea light carries to only several hundred meters, while sound carries for hundreds of kilometers, its why bioluminescence is common but echolocation isn't. Apparently convergent evolution chooses that it is either too expensive or too dangerous for a life form to have a communication medium that is way too far reaching, apparently your message must be received but not flood your target/opponent/mate.

[@peterkephart7955]

That's a smooth segue if I ever heard one. Well done.

[@mauricioaraujo9862]

Valeu!

[@Colesalad]

One simple explanation for bioluminescense occuring more in the seas than on land is "line of sight". Much of the ocean is a huge, empty expanse, there are no trees, no mountains to obscure view, so the pressures for communicating easily at a distance via light are by default much higher.

[@Latristessa]

wow that was a super smooth slide from science to marketing :)

[@tuc5987]

Does anyone know what music they use here? I doubt someone wrote an orchestral piece for a YT video, so it's probably some sort of "library music".

[@jerseyhudson27]

We all love stephanie.. please dont leave ever lol... the only reason i watcg these videos is because they are in depth, and her voice isnt boring but very calming..

[@Marahute0]

Those deep sea critters will aways be akin to Lovecraftian horrers...

[@luddity]

Scorpions and some fungi also bioluminesce.

[@Nylak-Otter]

I grew up with a bioluminescent rabbit. :D He had octopus genetics spliced into his own to show when other unrelated inserted gene sequences were activated.

[@Kiridiam]

If terrestrial ecosystems start glowing then I dont need to plan going to Pandora anymore

[@donovanmyers6313]

All life glows, not all eyes can see it.

[@eyrr7546]

Infra-red ?

[@IsupportAfinishedClub]

The world is a beautiful place...Glad to be a part of it :)

[@lilysceeliljeaniemoonlight]

As I watched further, this confirmed what i proposed that underwater the electricity isn't able to be used so they make it all on their Lil' twilight midnight lonesomes Until their sos love call whatevs is noticed Some of the jellies that shine biolight are some of the most spectacular beauty I've set my bioluminescent green eyes on! LoL

[@rossigrace5031]

That was a slick transition to the ad 🤣

[@wermh3719]

I am always so exited for any new video :D I love your content, thank you very much :3

[@caitybyrnes7132]

There is a few terrestrial snail species that have bioluminescence too but they are are mollusc so I guess their ancestors aren’t exclusively land animals so i don’t know if it counts

[@monhi64]

My immediate question is how can we even be sure how many animals bioluminescence. Every animal produces infrared light, we’re approaching this from a human eye perspective but I’m very curious about whether there are animals producing light we can’t perceive. It sounds so likely but no one has ever talked about it. We talk about animals with superhuman senses that can see infrared or whatever but that’s still from our perspective. I would love to know how many animals a mantis shrimp perceives to luminescence (spelling) considering they have so many extra light sensing cells.

[@connieembury1]

Wonderful video as always!

[@lilysceeliljeaniemoonlight]

Bioluminescence underwater may be (is) the communication means and also predatory and mating means. On land as these means travel through air and also air has electricity flowing through it and all living organisms and mammals including us is easiest picked up on . Pheromones and so on travel through lands ether fluently. Water it's not as easy , hence more bioluminescence for all the above reasons. Fire flys would use light for reasons instead of noise or smells because they'd be picked up easier by non same species and the light is not honed in on except for same species!(?) ? This makes so much logical sense to me this is a hypothesis i would put forward with confidence (?) Just!

[@peppergrowmienola4850]

This was a great video on a really cool topic. Very well done. 👍

[@christophhanke6627]

0:15 i think that might b wrong^^ These glowy, green balls aren't its actual eyes. Its eyes are at its front and look like small fish eyes

[@Nefertiti0403]

It makes sense to me, obviously, the reason is bc beyond the twilight zone…there’s No light that reaches that far below. Using bioluminescence seems to me it’s used for many reasons

[@BloodClotCryin]

@3:44 WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!?

[@kristiansandsmark2048]

Essentially since there is less light in the deep ocean, it becomes a great tool for the organisms living there.

[@edgykoala1732]

Is for real just a youtube channel? Someone should give them a Netflix deal or something. It is such high quality.

[@foxylovelace2679]

I thought the thumbnail said "75% Off" and I was like hell yeah thats a steal. I'll take some glowfish.

[@immystery3946]

Since the world is mostly water and salt water at that, some researchers now believe bioluminescence to be the most common form of communication in the animal kingdom

[@sock756]

"ME(DUMB) -> SKETCHY LINK" chef's kiss

[@chzone1238]

I love these videos so much and am really curious about sea life, but i can't help but point this out. You sound a lot like Summer from Rick and Morty.

[@MotoHikes]

Congrats on 1mil!

[@Petriefied0246]

The effect of bright lights in the deep oceans seems very similar to fighter jets launching flares to distract Infrared Missiles.

[@Imbapiranha]

"Why Is (Almost) All Bioluminescence in the Ocean?" - Cause cats with flashlights look stupid.

[@naymeequillo]

I love how scientists are sometimes just children going "OOH shiny!"

[@nakinilerak]

Real Science: when you said 'what were these eyes designed to see', did you mean 'what have these eyes evolved to see'?

[@juhanluik8470]

I need to start glowing to complete the next step in my evolution.

[@nicholasleone3494]

had to pause the video just to take in the fact that glow in the dark mushrooms exist

[@BruceVial]

I know in the context “fishes” is right for that sentence, in 34, will take me awhile to it. Great video btw.

[@QuesoCookies]

It's interesting to think we may be interrupting the development of bioluminescence in terrestrial creatures due to light pollution. The terrestrial world is no longer dark even half the time, so the creatures would need to not only evolve bioluminescence to take advantage of temporary darkness, they'd have to develop it strong enough to be effective in the semi darkness of areas anywhere near human cities. I think we're unlikely to see it ever evolve further on land within the anthropocene. Maybe once we're gone, though.

[@FireMcgwire]

Almost all??? There are so many mushrooms that are bioluminescence I can’t even begin to start naming….

[@TundeEszlari]

Wonderful video.

[@varunprakash6207]

Bioluminescence light on underwater Deep water research curiosity 👌 Deep water another world The darkest part of the ocean where We don't know the life of under water and 10:21 Japan and some Australia and some countries have bioluminescence light on creature and Deep water mystery to world they produce oxygen and marine organisms and some incredible creatures are underwater The real science explore Bioluminescence light glowing by the pictures and voice 🎤 with research analysis semma super

[@scinerd11]

The hypothesis that land animals havent evolved bioluminescence "yet" because they havent been around as long doesnt make sense unless included in conjunction with another hypothesis. Land and marine animals share a common ancestor.

[@Mechwolf9910]

Brilliant ad placement

[@Stormbladegamer]

in my opinion, bioluminescence is much more efficiant in the ocean than on land because of its reach(no trees, bushes, gras). Landanimals got the smell as an extra improved sense(not sure how much fish can smell other fish(not blood or corpses)). therefore they probably don't need bioluminescence for communication, baiting pley, finding partners.....

[@KevynLi]

happy new year from da philipines

[@bluepearl_22]

Me: Ah, what a quite and peaceful day. Meanwhile everyone in the ocean: SOLAR FLARE !!! 🙌

[@michealwestfall8544]

Just imagine, dinosaurs glowing with bioluminance.