Heads that glow in the dark - more from S

[stuartw]

Firstly I have to come clean (excuse the pun) and admit to using the marine toilet (only for a wee) in the marina. At my time of life, getting up at some unearthly hour in the morning has become something of a necessity.

Anyway, shortly after arriving in St Vaast, some 10 days ago, on one of my early morning trips, I noticed a strange phenomena in the bowl of the loo. As I was flushing, some very bright phosphorescent streaks appeared in the water, disappearing as quickly as they appeared. Now I do not normally put the light on, so at least I can keep 1/2 asleep, and preserve my night vision, at least good enough to aim in the right direction.
Now these flashes, when I first saw them, I was convinced I was seeing things, and thought I should not have had that second bottle of Cotes de Rhone.
However, the next night, a repeat performance. I tried a controlled experiment, and flushed slowly in the hope that these "objects" would stay glowing in the bowl. They did not. So I concluded that it was only when the water came in contact with air. At one stage I was convinced that I could smell ozone, but bearing in mind where I was, ie peering into a toilet bowl, that evidence is somewhat flawed.

I reported this to SWMBO, who refused to believe me. I persuaded her to have a look when she got out the next night. Bingo! She saw them as well.

Now I am aware there are some jellyfish and other strange sea creatures that do glow at night, so maybe that's a possibility. I have to say though, I half expected them to continue glowing, they did not, just a quick one second flash.

So, what is lurking in the waters of St. Vaast marina? I was in Cherbourg the previous week, and this did not occur.

Has anybody else experienced this?


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[HeadMistress]

Relax...neither you nor your boat are radio-active....nor were you hallucinating.

What you saw is an unusual phenomenon in marine toilets, but not unheard of--marine phosphorescence. It's often seen in waves at night, but the same micro-organisms that produce it can be pulled into the head with the flush water.



<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[Dave1258]

Sounds to me like you got yer microwave oven and electric flush wires crossed!!!

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[kimhollamby]

You can swim in it too!

Not in the toilet bowl I hasten to add (although I expect there is a danger that some might try if roaming around the boat at night with no lights on) but had to cut a load of net off props in English Channel circa midnight a few weeks back and didn't need any artifical light...phosphorescence in water was so bright as I moved around and blew bubbles.

Flushing a loo in St Vaast sounds easier and am not sure I really recommend swimming in English Channel at night but it was compensation to see such a strange thing.

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[AuntyRinum]

I get shrimps in my heads but they don't glow in the dark, Brighton Marina being too far from Dungeness Power Station.

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[stuartw]

I was aware of marine phosphorescence, however I am not sure I agree with you on what I saw were micro organisms. As Kim has pointed out, the sea itself can glow, which suggests it's like a thin glowing soup, made up of millions of the micro-organisms. What I saw was seemingly more substantial, ie very intense streaks, some 2-3 inches long and 1/4 inch wide. This suggesets to me some higher level organism, eg some form of marine worm, although I have to say I didn't see anything. If it was as you say, I would have expected it to be more evenly distributed, thus making all the water in the pan glow.
You may not know St. Vaast, as I assume you are the USA. It is a fishing port, and some fishing boats are berthed in the marina. Quite often they dump left over fish into the marina, many of which you can see sitting on the bottom-rotting. I think there is a rich marine life in there, so there may well be other forms of marine life which glow. Some fish phosphoresce, and perhaps an acumulation of rotting corpse may produce this effect.



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[HeadMistress]

I would have to agree that whatever you saw in the bowl wasn't "micro." Obviously it had to be some kind of sea life...possibly not any that glows itself, but bathed in the phosphorescence...???

Whatever it was, I would love to have seen it.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[Steve_D]

Its quite possible that phosphorescence would be "streaky" I did a lot of night paddling (in a kayak) a few years ago and as the paddle disturbes the water long streaks of glowing streamers would appear I presume along the vorteces (sp?) off the back of the paddle where the water was most agitated.

I suspect that if you took a torch along and shone it in the bowl where the glowing occurs you would see no organism as such just a swirl in the water. If there was any weed drawn in to the bowl I suspect it would tend to collect along it as well.

In norway one year the phosphorescence was incredible, paddling at 3 in the morning left glowing trails hundreds of meters long.

Steve D

<hr width=100% size=1>No. I was right the first time....

 

[stuartw]

I like that explanation. Clearly the drawing in of water via the pump created massive turbulence, which of course dissapated, along with the glow. However I am still not sure what mechanism is creating the phosphorescence. Is it an algae or somesuch thing?

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[kingfisher]

Jesuses

We call them "Jesusses": glow-in-dark microorganismes which emit a phosphorescent ligt when disturbed. Great fun when you're taking a leak, wonderfull when night sailing. But when you go night swimming when they're around, it's magical. The swimmer will be surrounded by a cool green halo. Therefore "Jesusses"

They're only around on certain nights.

<hr width=100% size=1>Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[andy_wilson]

Bioluminescence....

..is what we are really talking about here.

Usually single cell critters, when disturbed physically emit a glow when their doubled cell walls touch.

A standard and usually popular part of an advanced diving course is a night dive during which all the lights are turned off and you can wave your hand in front of your face with the same effect as a fairy's wand (should such a thing exist).

Marina dwellers probably won't experience the effect on rivers like The Yealm that are pitch black at night. Sparks are emitted from the propellor on the dinghy outboard, and the bow wave is bright green.

The Indian Ocean has a particular type that glow for a long time and can leave a yachts wake alight for several miles. Lost aircrew have been known to find their aircraft carrier after coming across the luminescent wake and homing in.

Sailing at night has it's own pleasures, and if joined by porpoises, they give an underwater 'firework display' as they shoot around and under the hull.

Oh, and you can see them in the loo too.

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[Divemaster1]

It's actually Bioluminescence, which is exhibited by a wide variety of oceanic organisms, from bacteria to large squids and fish. The light is emitted when a flavin pigment, luciferin, is oxidized in the presence of luciferase, an enzyme also produced by the organism (the chemical system is like that of fireflies).

Well, you did ask what creates the light and surely you did not expect a simple answer?




<hr width=100% size=1>Alf

 

[stuartw]

Yes, I think we all have established it was bioluminescence. However, I am still intrigued as to what little critters got sucked up my toilet intake actually are. I should have taken a sample of the water. Next time I will. The other intriguing thing is, why so prevalent in St. Vaast? In Cherbourg nothing. Despite all the other sitings in the sea etc, nobody seems to have seen what I did. Or am I the only one to go peeing in the dark.

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[Divemaster1]

Pyrocystis noctiluca, which I believe is the correct name for the critters,belongs to the so-called dinoflagellates. This term designates a group of micro-organism, which moves periodically or always with the aid of small flagella. Dinoflagellates belong to the marine plankton.

So I guess that may be one of your questions answered as "bioluminescent dinoflagellate".... or perhaps more widely known as "marine plankton".

Not sure why they are so prevalent in St.Vaast, nor could I possibly comment upon who is up relieving themself in the dark....

<hr width=100% size=1>Alf

 

[andy_wilson]

They live in colonies and procreate at an alarming rate in the right conditions. When underway they are to be found rich in some areas and none in another.

Light emission is said to be in relation to the amount of sunshine they recieve that day.

When you take a sample be prepared to be rushed into hospital when the results come through. They won't expect to find these fellers in your peepee.

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