I was on holidays in eden nsw and i through a rock at the water and its turned blue like it had a light in it

Question

and then we sprayed the water with the cleaning water on the fish gutting bench and everywere the water hit it went light as blue like it had lights i it ive been searching for 4 years can someone help me

Answer 1

Well when I was in Maxwell NSW the sand on the beach had a mineral in it that made the sand spark when you ran across it at night. ???? maybe same thing there?

Answer 2

Be careful. Was the blue in the form of little rings? It may have been a "blue-ringed octopus. This little critter is deadly, do not touch.

http://www.didyouknow.cd/animals/octopus...

Answer 3

The phenomenon you saw were single-celled algae that convert light to chemical energy through photosynthesis, much like plants.

What causes dinoflagellates to bioluminesce?

Three stimuli have been observed to cause bioluminescence in dinoflagellates:

~ mechanical stimulation - When shear forces, such as those caused by the stirring of water from the wake of a boat, a swimming fish or a breaking wave, deform the cell membrane, a short flash of approximately 1/100 of a second and 10^8 photons is produced.

~ chemical stimulation - Reducing the pH of their external medium by adding acid can cause some dinoflagellates to glow continuously.

~ temperature stimulation - Some species of dinoflagellate, such as G. polyhedra, will be induced to glow if the temperature is lowered.

What color are dinoflagellates when they bioluminesce?

Light emission from dinoflagellates is generally blue-green in color, falling in the light spectrum between 474 and 476 nanometers in wavelength. In Gonyaulax red flashes between 630 and 690 nanometers have been observed as well.

How does bioluminescence work?

The mechanism by which dinoflagellates emit light is not entirely known, but there is both a physical and a chemical component to the initiation of a flash.

The physical process - a bioluminescent flash is preceeded by an action potential during which the inside of the vaculor membrane becomes hyperpolarized ( has more negative voltage with respect to resting potential). This sets up the conditions for the chemical reaction.

The actual chemical reaction by which light is produced involves a substrate called luciferin and an enzyme called luciferase, which are sequestered in outpocketings of the vacuolar membrane. The action potential extrudes hydrogen ions into these pockets and lowering their pH. Under these acidic conditions, luciferin is released from its binding protein and is thus activated. Luciferase catalyses the oxidation of luciferin, resulting in light and an intermediate called oxyluciferin. Energy in the form of ATP must be provided to the system to regenerate luciferin.

How is bioluminescence regulated?

Bioluminescence is an expression of circadian rhythmicity, a phenomenon regulated on a daily cycle. In the absence of light, dinoflagellates exhibit peaks and valleys of bioluminescence. However, the biological clock can be 'entrained' by light exposure, shifting the peaks of luminescence to different times of day. Circadian control of cellular processes represents an adaptive advantage for dinoflagellates because they are vertical migrators in the water column. By keeping time, they can anticipate sunrise and be poised to start photosynthesizing at the surface as soon as light is available.

Why do dinoflagellates bioluminesce?

It is not known exactly why dinoflagellates bioluminesce. However, "the burglar alarm" is the leading hypothesis. It suggests that upon mechanical stimulation by potential predators, dinoflagellates light up. The light cues larger predators to the location of that predator threatening the dino. The middle predator is toast!

Answer 4

hmm.. are there little rocks or something...

sounds pretty cool :O

Answer 5

It has happened to me too. In Broome WA and again in Broken Bay (Near Byron) in Far North NSW. We used to say "There are stars in the water."

I think that it is phosphorescent cells from tiny little creatures or something, but explaining it is no way to go. Everyone should experience it first hand!

Answer 6

It could be phosphorescent tiny organisms... often you will see that as lights where the waves meet the shore..or slap against the side of your boat.  i had an amazing experience snorkelling through it one night every movement of your hands left trails of sparkelling lights,  the people up on the boat said it looked amazing like i was in a moving outline of light. However this would only apply to you if it was dusk/dark when it happened.

I would try contacting CSIRO marine sciences dept. they would have a real answer. They are there to help after all.

Answer 7

in Fla. some time's, not all time, the water would be that way, but only in fresh water, the old timers, called it fair water, it happens when salt water mixes with fresh water, hope that helped.

Answer 8

Probably bioluminescent algae.  The dinoflagellates benefit from being eaten by larger predators and glow when disturbed to attract them.