Bioluminescent responses of the deep-sea scyphozoanAtolla wyvillei

The bioluminescent responses of specimens of the deep-sea scyphozoanAtolla wyvillei, collected in the North East Atlantic and Southern Oceans between 1978 and 1984, were investigated. They include propagated waves of light travelling around both the coronal groove and/or various sites on the umbrella margin. The responses are non-polarised, there may be multiple waves resulting from a single stimulus, and propagation velocities range from 70 to 490 mm s^–1. Isolated luminous areas at the tentacle base do not produce multiple responses, but show summation of flashes at stimulus frequencies >2 s^–1 and facilitation is at least partly produced by local recruitment of additional luminous sources. Propagated luminous responses have also been observed in the neritic scyphozoanPelagia noctiluca. Damage during capture and handling probably limits the responses obtainable in the laboratory.