AbstractIn both photosynthetic (Pyrodinium bahamense, Gonyaulax polyedra, Pyrocystis Iunula, P. noctiluca, P. fusiformis) and nonphotosynthetic (Noctiluca miliaris) bioluminescent dinoflagellates chemical stimulation can by‐pass mechanical stimulation. The effective ions are Ca++, K+, NH4+and H+. Other chemicals found effective are those implicated in Ca++transport or binding. There are interspecies differences in degrees of mechanical and chemical stimulability. Photoinhibition of mechanical stimulability is the result of two effects, the first a reduction in total bioluminescence potential and the second a decrease in mechanical stimulability resulting experimentally in a decreased rate of light emission. This latter effect can be reversed with Ca++ions. Chemicals which bind Ca++or displace Ca++can mimic the effects of photoinhibition. The chemical inhibition of mechanical stimulability is also reversed by Ca++ions. A scheme is proposed which is consistent for all species examine
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