Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T00:41:13.706Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Luminescence in Polynoid Worms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

J. A. C. Nicol
Affiliation:
The Plymouth Laboratory

Extract

Six species of luminescent polynoids of the Plymouth fauna have been studied, namely Lagisca extenuata, Gattyana cirrosa, Harmothoë liinulata, Polynoë scolopendrina, Acholoë astericola and Malmgrenia castanea. Their scales are luminescent, and the light is produced by granular eosinophilic photocytes, which form a unicellular layer on the lower surface of the scale. The nervous supply of the elytrum is described, and the luminescent response is shown to be under nervous control. Luminescent responses from all six species have been recorded by the use of a photomultiplier cell and oscilloscope. The normal response has been found to consist of a series of rhythmic flashes, from 9 to 1 per sec, lasting up to 1 min. Some characteristics of the luminescent responses are given, and the part they may play in the normal life of the animal is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1953

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bonhomme, C., 1942. Recherches sur l'histologie de l'appareil lumineux des Polynoines. Bull. Inst. Océanogr., No. 823.Google Scholar
Dahlgren, U., 1916. The production of light by animals. Journ. Franklin Inst., Vol. 181, pp. 243–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Darboux, J. G., 1899. Recherches sur les Aphroditiens. Trav. Inst. Zool. Univ. Montpellier et Stat. Mar. Cette. Mem. No. 6.Google Scholar
Falger, F., 1908. Untersuchungen über das Leuchten von Acholoe astericola. Biol. Centrbl., Bd. 23, pp. 641–49.Google Scholar
Fauvel, P., 1923. Polychdख۹ਸษ๖็໊ètes errantes. Faune de France, 5, 488 pp., Paris.Google Scholar
Fordham, M. G. C., 1925. Aphrodite aculeata. L.M.B.C. Mem. xxvII, London: Hodder and Stoughton.Google Scholar
Hartman, O., 1938a. The types of the polychaete worms of the families Polynoidae and Polyodontidae in the United States National Museum and the description of a new genus. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 86, pp. 107–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartman, O., 1938b. Annotated list of the types of polychaetous annelids in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoöl. Harvard, Vol. 85, 31 pp.Google Scholar
Harvey, E. N., 1926. On the inhibition of animal luminescence by light. Biol. Bull., Vol. 51, pp. 85–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartman, O., 1940. Living Light. Princeton, N.J,: University Press.Google Scholar
Hartman, O., 1952. Bioluminescence. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Hasama, B., 1941. Über die Bioluminescence bei Chaetopterus variopedatus Renier im bioelektrischen sowie histologischen Bild. Zeit. wiss. Zool., Bd. 154, pp. 357–72.Google Scholar
Haswell, W. A., 1882. On the structure and functions of the elytra of the aphroditacean annelids. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Vol. 10 (Series 5), pp. 238–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jourdan, E., 1885. Structure des élytres de quelques Polynoës. Zool. Anz., Bd. 8, pp. 128–34.Google Scholar
Jourdan, E., 1887. Structure histologique des téguments et des appendices sensitifs de L'Hermione hystrix et du Polynoe grubiana. Arch. Zool. Exp. Gen., T. 5 (2 Série). pp. 91122.Google Scholar
Kallenbach, E., 1883. Ueber Polynoë cirrata O.Fr.Mllr. Inaug. Dissert. University Jena, 34 pp.Google Scholar
Khvorostansky, C., 1892. Sur la lumination des animaux de la mer Blanchèr. Inter. Congr. Zool. Moscow, Vol. 2, pp. 185–6.Google Scholar
Kutschera, F., 1909. Die Leuchtorgane von Acholoe astericola Clprd. Zeit. wiss. Zool., Bd. 92, pp. 75102.Google Scholar
Lloyd, R. E., 1907. Notes on phosphorescence in marine animals. Rec. Ind. Mus., Vol. 1, pp. 257–61.Google Scholar
Mcintosh, W. C., 1872.On the abyssal theory of light, the Protozoic-absorption theory, and the Azoic-mud theory, propounded in the reports of H.M.S. Porcupine, 1869 and 1870. Ann. Mag. Nat. Mist., Vol. 9 (series 4), pp. 113.Google Scholar
Mcintosh, W. C., 1877. On British Annelida. Trans. Zool. Soc., Vol. 9, pp. 371–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mcintosh, W. C., 1900. A monograph of the British annelids. Vol. 1, Part 2, 444 pp., London: Ray Soc.Google Scholar
Nicol, J. A. C., 1952a. Studies on Chaetopterus variopedatus (Renier). II. Nervous control of light production. Journ. Mar. Biol. Assoc., Vol. 30, pp. 433–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nicol, J. A. C., 1952b. Studies on Chaetopterus variopedatus (Renier). III. Factors affecting the light response. Journ. Mar. Biol. Assoc., Vol. 31, pp. 113–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Panceri, P., 1874. Intorno alla luce che emana dai nervi delle elitre della Polynoe R.C. Accad. Napoli, Vol. 13, pp. 143–47.Google Scholar
Pflugfelder, O., 1933. Zur Histologie der Elytren der Aphroditiden. Zeit. wiss. Zool., Bd. 143, pp. 497537.Google Scholar
Terao, A., 1917. Notes on the photophores of Sergestes prehensilis Bare. Annot. Zool. Jap., Vol. 9, pp. 299316.Google Scholar
Vallentin, R. & Cunningham, J. T., 1888. The photospheria of Nyctiphanes Norvegica, G.O. Sars. Quart. Journ. Mia. Sci., Vol. 28, pp. 319–41.Google Scholar