Arabic version: بريق البحر يضيء مياه بريزبن
According to ABC News, videos posted over the weekend showed electric-blue bioluminescence at boat ramps around Brisbane. The glow appears when water is disturbed and is produced by tiny single-celled marine organisms. Queensland sees the phenomenon less often than New South Wales or Tasmania in recent years, but it can be spectacular when conditions are suitable.
The light is linked to chemical reactions within dinoflagellates known as Noctiluca scintillans, or sea sparkles. These minute organisms feed on diatoms and use photosynthesis. Griffith University Australian Rivers Institute Professor Michele Burford said the Brisbane blooms were caused by dinoflagellate species that produce a light pulse in response to a threat or movement in the water.
Although each organism is tiny, concentrations near the water’s edge or larger blooms can create the visible glow. Professor Burford said dinoflagellates are unusual in the way they function in the natural environment, describing them as being “kind of halfway between an animal and a plant.” Marine ecology expert and Griffith University senior lecturer Vincent Raoult said bioluminescence occurs across a wide range of marine life, from phytoplankton and copepods to squid and some shark species.
Dr Raoult said the reason organisms flash is not yet clear, with possible roles including communication, warnings and attracting food in deep-sea settings. People hoping to spot sea sparkles can improve their chances by choosing a dark night and visiting a site a couple of hours after sunset. In Brisbane, winter is a common time to see the phenomenon, and Professor Burford identified the lower Brisbane River as a potential location on calm winter nights. Both experts said bioluminescence is generally not a sign of an unhealthy waterway, while advising people to heed broader council water-quality warnings.