Observations on bioluminescence in some deep-water anthozoans

The luminous responses to electrical stimulation of isolated polyps of 4 deep-water anthozoans are described. All show facilitatory responses and summation at stimulus frequencies > 2 s^–1. The responses of the gorgonian Acanella arbuscula comprise a slow summation of weak individual flashes. It is suggested that there is no fundamental difference between deep and shallow species, nor between the responses of scyphozoans, such as Pelagia and Atolla, and anthozoans, such as those described here. Both facilitated and decremental responses can be obtained from each of the 2 groups and the complexity of in vivo responses may be as much a reflection of selective pressures on the neural pathways as on the bioluminescent systems themselves.