Investigating Bioluminescence in Dinoflagellates

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Research shows that dinoflagellates can survive without light for up to 3 days without suffering much stress, but after the third day, each day or cycle without access to light causes more and more stress. When the cultures first arrive you're supposed to let them adjust to their conditions for a day before beginning any experimentation. With this being said, should I give them all a proper light-dark cycle (12 hours light, 12 hours dark) and then separate them into their testing groups or just put them in their testing groups when I first get them?

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Kat_Marie,

Thank you for using the Science Buddies fora.

Based on the information you have provided, the answer essentially depends on how you define "conditions." If you include light exposure in "conditions," then exposing the two groups of dinoflagellates to their respective lighting treatments would let them adjust, as you mentioned. However, you also mentioned that the dinoflagellates will survive without light for three days. That would mean that immediately separating them into their experimental groups and letting them "adjust" for a day would just add a day to all of your measurements.

Personally, I would let all of the dinoflagellates experience one day of the proper light-dark cycle. If you are buying them off the Internet, there is a good chance that they will be shipped in a crate, meaning that all of the dinoflagellates could potentially be without light for the duration of the shipping process. Therefore, I would suggest allowing them to recuperate.

I hope this adequately answers your question. Please do not hesitate to respond if you have further questions.

– Ultra