Perspectives on marine dinoflagellate bioluminescence: Is the current prevalence along the Indian waters only reckoned with aesthetic pleasure?

Abstract

A review of bioluminescence blooms specific to Indian waters was undertaken, aiming to identify the prevailing species accountable for these occurrences and to assess whether there is an increasing trend in bioluminescence bloom reports in India. Despite the frequent prevalence of bioluminescence blooms in Indian waters, there is a notable scarcity of dedicated studies exploring the bioluminescence potential of blooming species. Consequently, this review seeks to assess the frequency of bioluminescence blooms from 1890 to 2023. The review incorporates the current state of bioluminescence studies in India, presenting perspectives on the prevailing knowledge gaps within the same field. Compilation of 26 reports from over 30 locations across coastal, oceanic, and island ecosystems of India revealed a substantial increase in bloom reports post-2011, with only seven records available up to 2010. As per the reports availed, dinoflagellates – a notable planktonic community comprising species competent for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), toxin production and bioluminescence – is found to be the major causative organism of bioluminescence blooms along the coastal India. Despite the visual allure of bioluminescence, the deleterious impact of these dinoflagellate blooms on ecosystem functioning and the national economy necessitates significant attention. Conducting focused research on the diversity and distribution patterns, measuring bioluminescence intensity in response to different stimuli, and exploring genetic variability in bioluminescent organisms can offer essential baseline data to support and guide future research on bioluminescence.