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Metridia swimming and emitting blue light.

Metridia swimming and emitting blue light.
Metridia swimming and emitting blue light.
Metridia swimming and emitting blue light.
Metridia swimming and emitting blue light.
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348317
Linder, Christopher L.
Metridia swimming and emitting blue light.
Still Image
05/04/2009
graphics/PD5_dailys/cl_20090504160357.jpg
For this picture, the camera's shutter stayed open for four seconds as we poured water through the sieve; the Metridia swam around and left trails of light. "The thought is that they emit this blue light to scare off a predator," says Ashjian. It's a beautiful sight. The obvious question: Can I keep a jar of live Metridia on my bedside table? Unfortunately, she says, "Culturing copepods can be quite time-consuming." They need a very clean jar, and frequent water changes. They need specific food, so I'd have to grow the food-and a mix of food, so actually I'd have to grow multiple foods. Ok, fine, I get it, they're lousy pets. They sure are pretty, though.
Image of The Day caption:
Copepods are teeny crustaceans that play a big role in the food chain; they float around eating algae and in turn get eaten by bigger animals. This type of copepod, called Metridia, emits a glow similar to a firefly. ?The thought is that they emit this blue light to scare off a predator," said WHOI biologist Carin Ashjian during an April 2009 cruise to study the Arctic ocean ecosystem.
Photo by Chris Linder
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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