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12th International Symposium on Bioluminescence & Chemiluminescence |
Symposium abstracts:
Herring, Peter J.
Southampton Oceanography Centre, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, U.K.
E-mail: p.j.herring@soc.soton.ac.uk
Bioluminescence is a well-established means by which some animals transmit sexual signals, particularly fireflies. Different signal parameters (e.g. flash frequency and timing, intensity, colour, passive or active spatial pattern) can be used to code for the specific message. Only in fireflies and some ostracods have the signals been thoroughly analysed, yet there are many other animals whose bioluminescent behaviour or light organ sexual dimorphism suggests a function in facilitating mating encounters. The evidence for such a function is examined in a range of animals, emphasising that the information in a bioluminescent signal cannot be assumed to have sexual function simply on the basis of a structural dimorphism. It is also essential that the visual systems of the respondents are able to distinguish the characteristics of the signals.
This
is a preprint of an article accepted for publication in Luminescence: Copyright
2001 John
Wiley & Sons, Ltd (Wiley website)