John Miller
Glowing mushrooms, or bioluminescent fungi, are a fascinating occurrence in nature. Over 70 species of mushrooms are known to emit a cold light in the dark, transforming plain fungi into a wondrous sight. This phenomenon is due to a chemical reaction involving enzymes, light-emitting compounds, water, and oxygen. While the purpose of fungal bioluminescence is not fully understood, one theory suggests it attracts insects and spiders that aid in spore dispersal. The Atlantic Forest in Brazil is known for its high concentration of glowing mushrooms, attracting adventurers and contributing to the country's ecotourism. With ongoing research and conservation efforts, there is still much to discover about these luminous organisms.
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What You'll Learn
- Bioluminescence is a chemical reaction involving luciferase, oxyluciferin, and oxygen
- More than 70 species of mushrooms can glow in the dark
- Glowing mushrooms attract insects and spiders that help spread their spores
- Glowing mushrooms are found in Brazil's Atlantic Forest
- The jack-o'-lantern mushroom is a well-known glowing mushroom
Bioluminescence is a chemical reaction involving luciferase, oxyluciferin, and oxygen
Bioluminescence is a chemical reaction involving the emission of light from certain organisms. This phenomenon occurs widely in animals, especially in the open sea, including fish, jellyfish, comb jellies, crustaceans, and cephalopod molluscs, as well as in some fungi and bacteria. Over 70 species of mushrooms are known to exhibit bioluminescence, glowing in the dark due to a chemical reaction involving luciferase, oxyluciferin, and oxygen. This is similar to the chemical reaction that makes fireflies glow.
The chemical reaction of bioluminescence involves the compound luciferin, which reacts with oxygen in a reaction catalysed by the enzyme luciferase. Luciferin is a light-emitting pigment that varies little in evolution, with one type, coelenterazine, found in 11 different animal phyla. Luciferases, on the other hand, vary widely between species. In some cases, luciferase requires additional cofactors such as calcium or magnesium ions, and the energy-carrying molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
The bioluminescent reaction starts with the oxidation of luciferin, resulting in excited-state oxyluciferin. As these excited molecules return to their ground state, they emit visible light. This intricate process can be broken down into key stages, ultimately yielding oxyluciferin, the light emitter of the reaction. The sequence is similar to firefly bioluminescence, where magnesium ion- and ATP-dependent activation of luciferin by luciferase occurs, followed by a single electron transfer to molecular oxygen.
The bioluminescent reaction in mushrooms serves a specific purpose. While fireflies emit light to attract mates, mushrooms light up to attract insects that aid in spore dispersal. Additionally, mushrooms tend to glow on a cycle, similar to the human body's circadian rhythm. They maintain a 22-hour cycle that corrects to 24 hours based on temperature, intensifying their glow at night for greater effectiveness.
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More than 70 species of mushrooms can glow in the dark
Mushrooms are known to sprout up in the darkest, most unforgiving places, taking on bizarre shapes and colours. One of their quirkiest qualities is bioluminescence. More than 70 species of mushrooms can glow in the dark, transforming these usually plain and drab plants into a wondrous sight.
The light emitted by these mushrooms is due to a chemical reaction involving luciferase and oxygen, similar to the process that makes fireflies glow. This chemical reaction also produces oxyluciferin, which is what gives off light. The light emitted by bioluminescent mushrooms is usually blue-green or yellow-green.
Bioluminescent mushrooms include the jack-o'-lantern, which glows in both its mycelia and the gills on the underside of its cap. It is widely known and can be found in Europe, South Africa, and eastern North America. Another example is the Panellus stipticus, which is one of the brightest-glowing bioluminescent mushrooms on Earth. These flat fungi, which look like a collection of tiny fans growing on sticks, are a dull shade of yellow-beige during the day but transform into dazzling decorations after dark.
The purpose of bioluminescence in mushrooms is thought to be similar to that of fireflies. Fireflies light up to attract mates, while mushrooms are believed to light up to attract insects that will help them spread their spores. Additionally, the glowing mushroom caps may serve to discourage animals from eating them.
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Glowing mushrooms attract insects and spiders that help spread their spores
Mushrooms emit a cold light due to a chemical reaction between oxyluciferin molecules, an enzyme called luciferase, and oxygen. This is the same chemical reaction that causes fireflies to light up. However, while fireflies light up to attract potential mates, mushrooms glow to attract insects and spiders that will help spread their spores. This phenomenon is called foxfire and occurs primarily in fungi growing on decaying wood.
Scientists have long been curious about the reason behind the luminescence of certain mushrooms. In 2015, a study published in Current Biology finally shed light on this mystery. Researchers from Brazil and the U.S. focused on the pale green light emitted by the fungi Neonothopanus gardneri, which grows at the base of palm trees in Brazilian forests. They hypothesized that the light attracted insects, which could then help transport the fungal spores. To test this theory, they placed plastic mushroom decoys at the base of trees, with some lit by green LEDs to mimic the bioluminescence of the real mushrooms. Over five nights, they counted the number of insects that visited each imitation mushroom and found that the glowing decoys attracted over three times as many insects as the dark ones.
The researchers also discovered that the mushrooms' bioluminescence is under the control of a temperature-compensated circadian clock. This allows the mushrooms to conserve energy by only lighting up when it is dark and easiest to be seen. Dunlap, one of the researchers, speculates that many of the world's bioluminescent mushrooms have evolved to glow for this purpose.
The insects are drawn to the light, mistaking the fungi as potential mates. In their search, they inadvertently help the fungi reproduce by spreading their spores to new habitats. This is similar to how flowering plants have evolved alongside the foraging and reproductive behavior of animals to further their reproductive success.
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Glowing mushrooms are found in Brazil's Atlantic Forest
Glowing mushrooms, or bioluminescent mushrooms, are a rare sight, with only a handful of species existing worldwide. However, Brazil's Atlantic Forest is known for having the world's highest concentration of these luminous fungi.
The Atlantic Forest once spanned 330 million acres across Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. Today, only fragmented patches of this diverse rainforest remain in Brazil, with the largest intact area being the Ribeira Valley. This lush region is home to a unique variety of flora and fauna, including a stunning display of glowing mushrooms that attract adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike.
One of the most notable glowing mushrooms in the Atlantic Forest is the Mycena luxaeterna, also known as the eternal light mushroom. During the day, this fungus appears rather ordinary, but at night, it transforms into a spectacle of glowing green light, illuminating the surrounding trees and forest floor. The distribution of this species is limited primarily to the rainforests of São Paulo, Brazil.
Another fascinating variety found in the Atlantic Forest is the Mycena haematopus, commonly called the bleeding fairy helmet. This mushroom gets its name from the red latex it exudes when damaged, giving it a unique appearance. While its bioluminescence is relatively weak compared to other glowing mushrooms, it captivates with its beautiful burgundy-hued caps.
The discovery of these glowing mushrooms in Brazil's Atlantic Forest has sparked interest in ecotourism, offering a unique opportunity for travellers to explore this lesser-known rainforest. The IPBio Betary Reserve, a 148-acre stretch of rainforest dedicated to conservation, research, and sustainable tourism, invites visitors to embark on nighttime hunts for these neon fungi, led by experts like University of São Paulo associate professor Cassius Stevani.
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The jack-o'-lantern mushroom is a well-known glowing mushroom
Jack-o'-lantern mushrooms are poisonous and should not be consumed. They resemble edible chanterelles in appearance and are often mistaken for them, especially by novice foragers. However, jack-o'-lanterns have thicker, fleshier stems and brighter orange flesh. The main toxic compound in jack-o'-lantern mushrooms is muscarine, along with illudin S and illudin M, which can cause vomiting, cramps, and diarrhoea if consumed.
The bioluminescence of jack-o'-lantern mushrooms is believed to serve a similar purpose as in other glowing mushrooms. The light attracts insects to the mushrooms, which then help spread their spores over a wider area. However, studies have not yet confirmed the exact purpose of bioluminescence in this particular species. The glow of jack-o'-lantern mushrooms is bright enough to read by and can be observed in fresh specimens in low-light conditions once the eye becomes dark-adapted.
Jack-o'-lantern mushrooms have a global distribution, with different species found in various regions. In North America, there are Omphalotus illudens, commonly known as the eastern jack-o'-lantern mushroom, and Omphalotus olivascens, found in California. The European species is Omphalotus olearius, found in southern Europe, including southern France, the Iberian Peninsula, and other Mediterranean countries. The Eastern counterpart to Omphalotus olearius is Omphalotus illudens, found in eastern North America.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, glowing mushrooms, or bioluminescent mushrooms, do exist. There are over 70 species of mushrooms that can glow in the dark.
Glowing mushrooms produce light through a chemical reaction involving an enzyme called luciferase, oxyluciferin molecules, and oxygen. This is the same process that causes fireflies to glow.
Glowing mushrooms are typically found in temperate and tropical climates. They often grow in dark, damp, and unforgiving places, such as forests. Some specific locations include the rainforests of São Paulo, Brazil, and parts of North America, South Africa, Asia, and Europe.
The exact reason why glowing mushrooms produce light is not yet fully understood. One hypothesis is that the light attracts insects, which may help the mushrooms spread their spores. Another theory suggests that the light could attract predators of arthropods that feed on the mushrooms.
