Increase in the Density of Cypris Larvae Settlement in a Higher Emission Area of Bioluminescence from Photobacterium leiognathi Suspended in a Test Tube

Abstract

The settlement of cypris larvae was examined in a dark room when the emission of blue to blue-green bioluminescence from Photobacterium leiognathi cells existing in seawater was suspended in a test tube. The number of cypris larvae that settled on the test tube increased as compared with that on the test tube without P. leiognathi cells. The density of settlement was analyzed statistically in relation to the distance from the surface of the seawater in a container. The result showed that cypris larvae settled preferentially in the area of higher luminescence located at the surface of the cell suspension.