NORTH ATLAJJTIC OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS (FIGURE l) 



Coastal Waters of Eastern United States 



Bright displays (mostly sheet- and glowing-ball types) have been 

 observed in coastal waters of the eastern United States during spring and 

 late summer. Euphausiids and copepods often appear in large concentrations 

 capable of causing strong spark-type displays in the Gulf of Maine during 

 the summer. Ctenophores, such as Fleurobrachia , the sea gooseberry, have 

 been observed in large numbers in the Gulf of Maine and along the coasts 

 of southern New England. Dahlgren (1915) reported some observations of a 

 friend from Harpswell, Maine concerning bioluminescent water. The water 

 luminesced because of large concentrations of ctenophores, which glowed 

 with a green light as they were struck or entrapped within a towed net. 

 Diffuse surface luminescence has been observed during the spring and late 

 summer months in Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay. 



Farther south in Barnegat Harbor, New Jersey occasional displays 

 have been observed. These often have been bright enough to attract the 

 attention of observers on shore, as in the autumn of I963 when leurge 

 numbers of luminescent copepods and dinoflagellates were present in the 

 water. Dahlgren (1915)^ while traveling in Chesapeake Bay, described 

 the vivid "green fire" that occurred as his ship sailed through water 

 containing large numbers of luminescent dinoflagellates. The light 

 emitted was strong enough to come through the porthole and reflect from 

 the ceiling of a stateroom. 



Gulf of Mexico 



The Gulf of Mexico contains a tropical plankton, including many 

 bioluminescent forms. Displays are as intense as in more northern waters, 

 although not as frequent. Most of the bioluminescence reported has been 

 observed in coastal regions or over shallow depths as in the Straits of 

 Florida. Agassiz (I888) noted both Pyrosoma and Salpa in coastal waters. 

 The pyrosomes were not as common as in Indian Ocean waters, and the dis- 

 plays caused by these forms were much weaker. Salps, according to 

 Agassiz, were larger in size than in more northern waters; the light 

 given off by them was bright green, supplemented by a bluish light from 

 other smaller salps. 



"Red tides" often are noted along the west coast of Florida and in 

 Texas coastal waters during the summer. Connell and Cross (1950) described 

 the appearance of a "red tide" containing large numbers of a particularly 

 virulent marine dinoflagellate, Gonyaulax . At night the water appeaxed 

 luminescent. This condition has been observed in June and August, usually 

 after rains along the coast. Noctiluca also has been observed in the 

 gulf during Mairch. This organism may be present in great numbers along 

 the Mexican coast and over Campeche Bank in the spring. 



Along the north coast of Cuba the ocean often is strongly illuminated. 

 Fishermen make use of this bioluminescence for tracking fish as the fish 

 swim through the water. In Havana Harbor the water often is biolixminescent 

 during the cool December and January nights. 



