Fluorescence of sponges and coelenterates in blue light

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 873,IN5,877 - 876,IN5,882
• Main Authors: Read, Kenneth R.H, Davidson, Jeffrey M, Twarog, Betty M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.1968
• ISSN: 0010-406X
• DOI: 10.1016/0010-406X(68)90575-6

1. 1. The sponge Verongia fistularis may owe its intense yellow-green color at a depth of 40 m in the ocean to fluorescence. 2. 2. When alcoholic extracts of Verongia fistularis are excited by light of wavelength 365 mμ, they fluoresce maximally in the range 470–484 mμ; when excited at 464 mμ, maximum emission is in the range 517–528 mμ. Maximum emission at 475 mμ is obtained by exciting frequencies in the range 368–374 mμ; at 520 mμ maximum emission is obtained when the exciting frequencies lie in the range 363–374 and 456–476 mμ. 3. 3. In sections prepared for histological study, the fluorescence is preserved by formaldehyde fixation, extracted by alcoholic fixatives (Carnoy, etc.) and quenched by Bouin's fixation. 4. 4. The fluorescent pigment is localized in the lamellar portions of the spongin fibers of Verongia fistularis. 5. 5. An alcoholic extract prepared from the northern intertidal sponge Halisarca dujardini displayed excitation and emission spectra similar to those shown by Verongia fistularis. 6. 6. The corals Montastrea cavernosa and Mussa angulosa fluoresce red at depths of 25–40 m under excitation from the ambient light.