For the first time in 60 years, the lucky ones, walking along the beach of Puerto Marques in Acapulco (Mexico), got a free «light show» when the waves began to glow blue. A rare phenomenon — the result of biochemical reactions caused by bioluminescent plankton in the water.
Social media users posted photos and video of the shoreline glows bright blue when the waves fall on the beach of Puerto Marques.
<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/04/cacf530293e1c6004f81e7ed80a95255.jpg" alt="For the first time in 60 years: waves on the Pacific coast lit up bright blue (photo)” />Photo: Twitter
Some people associate the presence of bioluminescent plankton with the lack of human activity due to the quarantine. However, marine biologist Enrique Ayala, Duval rejected that idea.
He wrote on Sabersinfin.com that «bioluminescence is the light arising from biochemical reactions involving luciferin, [protein], molecular oxygen and ATP [adenosine triphosphate], which react with enzyme».
Luciferase is as follows: oxygen oxidizes luciferin, luciferase speeds up the reaction and ATP provides the energy for the reaction, producing the glow.
The most common among luminous organisms in the sea are marine bacteria. But some other marine species also use bioluminescence to attract prey, detect predators or to find partners.
Due to quarantine Mexico has banned bathing at beaches across the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
But a beach holiday fan I could not resist and jumped in the neon-blue waters of the Pacific coast.
Bioluminescence appears on the beaches of Puerto Marquez, Acapulco, #Mexico.@dezabedrosky #acapulco #plaza #puertomarquez #beach #videos #climatechange #likes4like #lights #lighthouse #cute #awesome #mundial pic.twitter.com/vvhoLpDACh
— Corelion, LLC (@corelionnews) April 22, 2020
By the way, in some parts of Mexico it’s a wonderful spectacle can be seen regularly. The water along the shore of the island of Holbox in Quintana Roo glows blue from may to September. Lake Chacahua National Park in Oaxaca also Shine from about August to March.
