Well, it is almost time to leave Palmer Station.  The Laurence M. Gould has returned and today I have been very busy moving cargo between the boat and shore, cleaning up my lab space and the aquarium where I have been keeping animals, and packing up my clothes.  It is sort of sad to leave this amazing place, and all of the good friends I have made here.  But, it will be good to get home.

Last night I thought it would be fun to try and photograph some krill producing light from their light organs (photophores).  I mentioned earlier in the blog that krill produce bioluminescence on their belly, and they most likely use it to blend in with the skylight when a predator views them from below.  For more information on bioluminescence, check out http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/.  The photo above is of Euphausia superba (Antarctic Krill), taken in the dark when it was producing light.  The first two double dots are photophores below the eyes, then there are 2 additional sets of double photophores on the body, then single photophores along the tail.  Amazing, isn’t it!!  I was running around the station trying to find everyone I could to show them this great biological fireworks display!  Perhaps one of the things krill are looking at underwater with their eyes is bioluminescence?  The data I collected during this trip on the capabilities of krill vision can help to answer that question.