Bioluminescent Life Stamps Bring Ocean Darkness to Light on Feb. 22

The South Florida District is hosting the First-Day-Of-Issue dedication of the Bioluminescent Life Forever stamps at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 22, at the Sunrise Theatre, 117 South 2^nd ST, Fort Pierce, FL. The event is free and open to the public. Employees may attend as an off-the-clock activity.

 
U.S. Postal Service Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Vice President Jeffrey C. Williamson will share officiating duties with Dr. Edith Widder, American oceanographer, marine biologist and co-founder, CEO and Senior Scientist at the Ocean Research and Conservation Association (located in Fort Pierce).

Bioluminescence reigns supreme in the darkness of the deep ocean. Fishes, squids, jellyfish, worms and many other ocean organisms make varied use of their ability to glow. Their light can lure food or attract a mate or fend off a predator. For many species, bioluminescence is security lighting. For example, a midwater jellyfish sets off flashing, swirling rings of light when it is threatened. The display alerts other predators more likely to eat the attacker than the jellyfish itself.
 

Some species are born with bioluminescence, while others, such as certain fishes and squids, have receptacles for displaying bioluminescent bacteria that they capture.

Since the late 19th century, many breakthrough discoveries regarding bioluminescence have come through the study of fireflies. Because these beetles exist on every continent except Antarctica, they provide scientists with the most convenient means by which to investigate the phenomenon.