Bioluminescent countershading in midwater animals: evidence from living squid.

@article{Young1976BioluminescentCI,
  title={Bioluminescent countershading in midwater animals: evidence from living squid.},
  author={Richard Edward Young and Clyde F. E. Roper},
  journal={Science},
  year={1976},
  volume={191 4231},
  pages={
          1046-8
        }
}
Midwater squid respond to overhead illumination by turning on numerous downward-directed photophores; they turn off the photophores when overhead illumination is eliminated. The squid are invisible when the intensity of the photophores matches the intensity of the overhead illumination. These results strongly support the theory of ventral bioluminescent countershading. 
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79 Citations

Cryptic Bioluminescence in a Midwater Shrimp
The mesopelagic shrimp Sergestes similis emits ventrally directed bioluminescence that closely matches the intensity of downward-directed illumination and is able to rapidly modify its light output…
Eyes and extraocular photoreceptors in midwater cephalopods and fishes: Their roles in detecting downwelling light for counterillumination
TLDR
Preliminary experiments examining the bioluminescent feedback mechanism for monitoring intensity of biolauminescence during counterillumination in the midwater squid Abralia trigonura indicated that the ventral photosensitive vesicles are responsible for biolumscent feedback.
INTENSITY REGULATION OF BIOLUMINESCENCE DURING COUNTERSHADING IN LIVING MIDWATER ANIMALS
TLDR
It is suggested that the concealment strategy of ventral bioluminescent countershaders is limited to depths greater than 350-400 m, largely because of the high visual acuity of predators and the high cost of producing countershading luminescence at lesser depths.
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It is shown that bioluminescent organs of the squid Euprymna scolopes possess the molecular, biochemical, and physiological capability for light detection, and expression of genes encoding key visual transduction proteins in light-organ tissues, including the same isoform of opsin that occurs in the retina are revealed.
Aquatic prey use countershading camouflage to match the visual background
TLDR
In a freshwater fish that can change color, countershading provides optimal camouflage for different visual backgrounds and viewing angles rather than to reduce shadowing.
3-Dehydroretinal in the eye of a bioluminescent squid, Watasenia scintillans
Bioluminescence in the Monterey Submarine Canyon: image analysis of video recordings from a midwater submersible
Video images of bioluminescence were recorded in situ during a 1985 study of the midwater environment of the Monterey Canyon, using a single-person, untethered submersible. Gelatinous organisms were…
Eye/Photophore Coordination and Light-following in Krill, Euphausia Superba
TLDR
It is concluded that vision is necessary for light-following responses by the photophores, and Subtle differences in photophore response when krill were oriented other than horizontally imply that krill may have a gravity sense that could help them orient in darkness.
Propagation and Perception of Bioluminescence: Factors Affecting Counterillumination as a Cryptic Strategy
TLDR
The appearance of the counterillumination was more affected by the visual acuity of the viewer than by the clarity of the water, even at relatively large distances, which has implications for the study of spatial resolution, contrast sensitivity, and color discrimination in deep-sea visual systems.
Light organ photosensitivity in deep-sea shrimp may suggest a novel role in counterillumination
TLDR
Investigation of photosensitivity in the bioluminescent light organs of deep-sea shrimp finds evidence for the expression of opsins and phototransduction genes known to play a role in light detection in most animals.
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