Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on the Bioluminescence of Dinoflagellates

Abstract- We are studying the effects of electromagnetic fields on the stimulated bioluminescence of dinoflagellates. We use the dinoflagellate Pyrocystis fusiformis which emit a bright flash of blue light when disturbed. We placed a container of P. fusiformis between two electrodes. To stimulate a flash of bioluminescence, a wooden stick was dropped onto the assembly containing the electrodes and dinoflagellate container. Light emerging from the container was captured with a video camera and video images were uploaded to a laptop computer. The electrode voltage was varied between 0, 500, and 1,000 volts AC, corresponded approximately to electric field strengths of 0, 787 and 1,575 V/cm, and the frequency ranged from 5 to 20 kHz. At 4 to 6 hours into the night cycle, we dropped the stick once and then once again five minutes later. For fields of frequency 5 kHz we calculated the ratio of the amount of light emitted during the flash at 5 minutes divided by the light emitted at 0 minutes. There is an interesting trend, as the voltage increased, the ratio decreased. Using a one-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) we concluded that the application of an electromagnetic field causes a statistically significant decrease in the stimulated bioluminescence of Pyrocystis fusiformis.