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Observations on the luminescence of Pennatula phosphorea, with a note on the luminescence of Virgularia mirabilis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

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

Pennatula phosphorea Linn, is a well-known luminescent animal, which was studied by that pioneer investigator, Panceri (1871,1872 a, b). He found that the animal luminesces when excited, and that the light emanates from the zooids. From the region stimulated luminous waves proceed, with measurable velocity, to the extremities of the animal. Since waves can be initiated in either direction, up or down the colony, it follows that the transmission system is non-polarized. Recent studies on other species of pennatulids have shown that luminescence is under control of a nerve net (Nicol, 1955 a, b, c; Daven-port & Nicol, 1956). Harvey's book on Bioluminescence (1952) gives a review of pertinent literature, plus a bibliography.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 37 , Issue 3 , October 1958 , pp. 551 - 563
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1958

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References

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