Electric-blue flashes at Brisbane boat ramps caused by bioluminescent sea sparkles

Electric-blue flashes have appeared at local boat ramps in Brisbane, a phenomenon caused by bioluminescence. This captivating display is created by microscopic marine organisms called dinoflagellates, specifically Noctiluca scintillans, also known as sea sparkles.

These unicellular creatures emit a glow when the water is disturbed, a chemical reaction triggered by movement. Professor Michele Burford from Griffith University's Australian Rivers Institute explained that while bioluminescence is a common trait in marine life, the blooms seen in Brisbane are caused by these specific dinoflagellates. "They produce this bioluminescence in response to some sort of threat or movement of water that causes them to do this chemical stimulation of a light pulse," she said. "They're tiny little things, but because they can gather together in blooms or form concentrations near the water's edge, that's when you see that luminescence, which looks like one thing but is actually a whole lot of tiny little organisms all lighting up at the same time."

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They produce this bioluminescence in response to some sort of threat or movement of water that causes them to do this chemical stimulation of a light pulse. They're tiny little things, but because they can gather together in blooms or form concentrations near the water's edge, that's when you see that luminescence, which looks like one thing but is actually a whole lot of tiny little organisms all lighting up at the same time.

Marine ecology expert Vincent Raoult noted that bioluminescence is found across a wide range of marine organisms, from tiny phytoplankton to larger creatures like squid and even some sharks. The exact reason for the light emission remains unclear, with theories suggesting it could be for communication, such as a warning signal or to indicate presence, or as an attractant in deep-sea environments where it is a primary source of light. While bioluminescence is seen more frequently in places like New South Wales and Tasmania, the recent sightings in Brisbane highlight its spectacular potential when environmental conditions align.

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One of them is communication, and that can be communication with other organisms … in the form of a warning, or it can be in the form of telling other organisms to be aware that they're there.