Even in protected areas, which can successfully act as a buffer to expanding urbanisation and deforestation, the effects of light pollution are tangible. Eventually ALAN may affect entire ecosystems. ALAN mostly affects nocturnal species, however, diurnal species and even plants can also be affected. Perhaps surprisingly, there are no known light-producing plants – only bioluminescent fungi.Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a globally occurring threat to wildlife, which has emerged relatively recently with the expansion of human industrialisation and is currently still increasing worldwide by 6% every year. A number of terrestrial creatures have also evolved to glow, but fish are the only bioluminescent vertebrates. In fact, making light has proven to be such a useful trait that it has evolved independently at least 40 times.īioluminescence is most common in the oceans – where in the deep it’s the only form of light – and according to Nature journal, an incredible 76% of ocean species are bioluminescent to some degree. Animals on this list and produce light and use bioluminescence to:
Whilst glowing animals may seem other-worldly, there are a range of practical reasons animals have evolved this special power.
So bioluminescent creatures are simply animals that produce their own light. This light is created by the organism either through a series of chemical reactions (typically a substance called luciferin reacts with oxygen as a chemical reaction to release energy in the form of light), or by a form of glowing bacteria that the animal hosts.
The term ‘bioluminescence’ refers to the production of light by living organisms which is emitted from their body. The world is a wonderful place, and nature’s magic is no more in evidence than when it comes to bioluminescent animals – animals that can actually glow in the dark! What is a ‘bioluminescent animal’?
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