Sea Sparkle – Extreme Bioluminescence in Tasmanian Waters
Text by Dr. Lisa-ann Gershwin and Fiona Walsh
Images by Alison Painter, Dallas Stott, Geraldina Dijkstra, Jonathan Esling, Leoni Williams, Nic Fitzgerald, Paul Fleming, Theresa Ockenden, Dave Reynolds, and Nick Dobinson
We mere mortals have marvelled at Mother Nature since time immemorial: sunsets and sunrises, lightning, hail storms, eclipses, aurorae, rainbows… and even snowbows for that matter. Nature’s art has inspired painters, poets, lovers, and the forlorn, and provided us all with a means of feeling a connection to something so much bigger than ourselves. This connection – this attraction to nature – transcends cultural boundaries, political paradigms, and the passage of time.
And it was has been on full, electric blue display across southern Tasmania.
Our story begins with a handful of aurora photographers, who were out on their regular Friday night aurora hunt. The skies were clear, the moonlight was dim, and the weather mild; unfortunately the aurora failed to develop. As they were heading home, they noticed a strange yet illuminating glow coming from waves lapping in the distance. The tide was too far out to get a closer look, yet curiosity had taken hold and a plan was made to return the next night on the hunt for the glowing stuff. And the rest, as the saying goes, is history.
Photos were posted, the story went viral, media frenzied, young and old flocked to the beach, people flew in from the mainland to see … In the blink of an eye – or really, in a flash of light – Noctiluca became a household word and Tasmania became a bucket-list destination.
The phenomenon of bioluminescence – or sea sparkles – is caused by organisms that make their own light with a chemical reaction inside their body. In this case, the organism is a tiny dinoflagellate called Noctiluca scintillans, Latin for “sparkling night light”. Dinoflagellates are a type of phytoplankton (phyto = plant, plankton = drifter); however, they aren’t true plants, rather, they are microscopic single-celled algae. They are like seaweed, but much smaller. Rather than make their own energy like a plant does, they consume organic matter floating around them, including other single-called organisms like plankton and even fish eggs.
Many types of dinoflagellates are bioluminescent, and may produce different colours of light. Noctiluca flashes or glitters with brilliant neon blue. Singly, each individual emits a tiny speck of light, but en masse, they can light up a beach with an eerie other-worldly glow. Their bioluminescence are usually be observed in three different ways: a dull glowing band along the shore that defines the edge of the concentration, brilliant flashes when disturbed such as by crashing waves or dancing enthusiasts, and gentle twinkling where individual Noctiluca cells have been washed up on the sand.
So bright is their light, in fact, that during World War II, the Japanese dried dinoflagellates into powder and issued envelopes of it to their troops. At night on the front line, the soldiers would pour a bit of powder into their hand, spit on it, and rub it between their palms, giving them enough light to read their maps by without giving away their location.
So what has triggered Tasmania’s recent sea sparkling? The present bloom had been building for a few weeks following rains that washed nutrients into the water; dog poo on the sidewalk and Seasol in Grandma’s garden act like fertilizer for algae when storm runoff gets into the sea. The bloom came to light when the winds blew it into accessible locations, and this extreme bioluminescence event has now been reported across Southeast Tasmania from Kingston, Howden, Battery Point, Howrah, Lauderdale, Eaglehawk Neck, and many points in between. Protected areas, surf beaches … you name it, people are seeing Sea Sparkles there. Many of the most incredible photos were taken at South Arm near the neck, where the northerly breeze blew the Noctiluca into Ralph’s Bay and concentrated them against the shore at the bottom of the bay. The neon blue waves were plainly visible to passing traffic.
This influx into such easily accessible areas has provided a unique opportunity for people to interact with nature in a completely unexpected and thrilling way. A hand dipped in the water comes out glowing an electric blue. A handful of sand thrown over the water produces a spray of sparkles … and then an explosion of light. Sand poured through the hands looks like molten blue light. Footprints at the water’s edge flash then twinkle. A dog splashing in it creates a light show that defies description.
While the spectacular unretouched photos made their way across the world’s headlines and mainlanders booked flights to come see this natural wonder, there is another, more sinister side of this species that is just as surprising as its sparkle: it is a pest. And a bad one at that.
The sad truth is that Noctiluca is one of the world’s most unwanted species. It was first reported in Tasmanian waters in 1994. It is not native here. Its invasive progress has been tracked and studied by researchers at the University of Tasmania, and the story is not a good one. It has spread to more or less every nook and cranny of the Tasmanian coastline, and has recently penetrated the Southern Ocean, expanding ever southward. Periodically when the conditions are right, it blooms into superabundances, the sorts of numbers that are generally only met with in astronomy. Billions. Trillions. Numbers that don’t even have names. In these sorts of numbers, Noctiluca is a killer. As the cells die, they burst and release their ammonia-rich contents into the surrounding water. The water becomes toxic and de-oxygenated. Globally, Noctiluca has more fish kills notched onto its belt than just about any other species. Having said that, it is a sight worth seeing as well as a spectacular reminder for us all to explore the world around us. You never know what amazing things you may find.
Dr Lisa-ann Gershwin has built a strong international reputation in jellyfish research over the last 25 years, with special emphasis on the dangerous box jellies and Irukandjis. Her first book, Stung! On Jellyfish Blooms and the Future of the Ocean, was published in 2013 by University of Chicago Press; blending Lisa’s lively explanations with rigorous science to argue that human impacts on nature have passed a tipping point, it quickly became an Amazon Best Seller. In early 2015, Lisa reached a glorious milestone in discovering her 200th new species, which span six animal phyla and three kingdoms, and include at least 14 species potentially lethal to humans... plus a dolphin! Lisa proudly resides in Battery Point with a collection of carnivorous plants; her home, called Villa Medusa, is decorated like a jellyfish art gallery.
- Lisa-ann Gershwinhttps://tasmaniangeographic.com/author/lisa-ann-gershwin/
Fiona Walsh is a person of many obsessions who spends her time trying to combine them all. Photography and a passionate love of science keeps her out and about exploring everything she can find in the natural world. From the beauty of a sunset and auroras to the intricate details of the world of fungi and the lower plant kingdom she is never short of something to keep her mind racing. In between her fascination with the natural world she spends her time studying plant science at UTAS, hanging out with her husband and kids and generally getting side tracked with the latest obsession that has caught her fancy.
- Fiona Walshhttps://tasmaniangeographic.com/author/fiona-walsh/
My husband and I retired to Tasmania 15 months ago from Melbourne. We are avid Aurora Australis and night photographers and have been known to occasionally photograph landscapes during the day.We love the pristine environment of Tasmania. We subscribe to carefully managed protection whilst still allowing promotion of Tasmania.
Dallas Stott is a Tasmanian amateur photographer with a passion for capturing and sharing interesting and unusual natural phenomena and is an enthusiastic Aurora Chaser.
I am a child educator and hobbyist photographer. I spend many a night out shooting nightscapes and chasing Aurora as well as doing portrait work in my spare time. i generally shoot for the simple pleasure of being out there exploring the beautiful world in which we live and being with like minded folk with the same passion.
- Leena Wisbyhttps://tasmaniangeographic.com/author/leena-wisby/
I have been fortunate to capture the Aurora Australis several times over the last few years and the recent Bioluminescence which enveloped some of our shores in southern Tasmania was simply breathtaking and were certainly highlights of my photography experience with visions I will never forget. I lived for the first 6 years of my life at South Arm right on the very beach which was the most popular beach with the largest display if Bioluminescense and then the Derwent Valley where I spent the remainder of my childhood. I enjoy contributing to many Tasmanian Tourism Based Facebook Pages and other photo sharing Pages and Groups which cover subjects of my interest.
Paul is a freelance digital and social media influencer within the travel and tourism industry. Based in Hobart, Paul combines his academic know-how from his honours degree in Tourism from UTas with a flair for captivating travel and visual storytelling photography. Sharing places, stories and experiences via his social media channels, notably as @lovethywalrus on Instagram, Paul travels Australia and internationally working with tourism destinations and operators to showcase their unique products to his global audience.
Jonathan Esling is a Tasmanian based photographer who specialises in macro images of Australian flora, landscapes, and the night sky
JEsling Photography
Dave is a dedicated landscape and nightscape photographer, based in Tasmania. He is committed to the process of capturing beautiful images which distill the essence of a place into a single photograph.
Geraldina was born in the Netherlands and came to Australia three years ago. Mesmerized by all the beauty in Tasmania, she decided to stay here. On her travels, Geraldina always takes a lot of photos. And recently the type of photography shifted from landscape, to macro and night-time photography. Quite a couple of nights were spent out with steel wool spinning and aurora chasing. And recently Geraldina has been chasing bioluminescent phytoplankton.
- Geraldina Dijkstrahttps://tasmaniangeographic.com/author/geraldina-dijkstra/
Nick is a writer, photographer, adventurer and ecologist who makes frequent forays into Tasmania's many wild and interesting places. His botanical proclivities have led him back to study at the University of Tasmania where he is undertaking research into the ecology of sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island.
Far South Ecology
- Nick Fitzgeraldhttps://tasmaniangeographic.com/author/nick-fitzgerald/
- Nick Fitzgeraldhttps://tasmaniangeographic.com/author/nick-fitzgerald/
- Nick Fitzgeraldhttps://tasmaniangeographic.com/author/nick-fitzgerald/
- Nick Fitzgeraldhttps://tasmaniangeographic.com/author/nick-fitzgerald/
Theresa Ockenden, aka @lifecatchme on Instagram, Twitter & Tumblr. Lives in both Sydney and Hobart. Has a background in Exercise Physiology. Is a hobby photographer that melds stories in with the images to create a sense of bringing the looker into the picture.
I have no real education with photography just a love and passion for it. I'm happy with these and think this is a great example how a self taught novice can capture mother nature and her wonder.
