James F. Case

Research Professor

Marine Science Inst.
Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106

Office: Mar. Biotech Rm 3151
Office Phone: 805-893-2913
Lab Phone: 805-893-3639
e-mail:

 

During most of my academic career I have been interested in invertebrate neurobiology and behavior even though my thesis was on vertebrate neuroendocrine embryology. In military service I began working on neural respiratory control in insects, and afterwards I did a postdoctoral in the Nerve Muscle Program at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, which shifted my interest fully into marine invertebrates and also saw the beginning of a collaboration with John Buck on firefly neurobiology and behavior that still continues.

Subsequently I did, with Frank Gwilliam, neurophysiology and ultrastructure work on chemoreception in crabs, defining their amino acid taste receptors, and did behavioral and field work in the same area. Ultimately I came to focus on bioluminescence in marine organisms and in fireflies.

Bioluminescence is a fascinating subject with many questions still remaining. The chemistry of luminescence is well understood because of the great effort that has been applied to practical uses of luminescence in cellular biology and as a tracer in molecular investigations. Yet the neural and cellular controls that regulate light emission are known in only the most sketchy fashion, especially when compared with better known effector systems such as muscle.

Behaviorally, luminescence in fireflies functions in mating, with each species tending to have a distinct communication flash code. In the sea, which is truly the home of bioluminescence, the role of bioluminescence in the lives of the myriad of luminescent species, from dinoflagellates to fish, is only beginning to be understood in a few specific instances. One of the clearest of these is the phenomenon of counterillumination which has been studied in my laboratory in the crustacean Sergestes and more recently in the midshipman fish, Porichthys.

General Research Interests:

1. Physiological mechanisms of bioluminescence and its control in fireflies, marine animals and dinoflagellates;
2. Vision in deep-sea animals;
3. Bioluminescence in marine ecosystem dynamics;
4. Instrumentation development for marine bioluminescence;
5. Neurophysiological analysis of invertebrate behavior;
6. Evolution of bioluminescence.

Currently active research projects:

1. Development of a bioluminescence detector for use on autonomous underwater vehicles
2. Counterillumination in the midshipman fish, Porichthys
3. Spontaneous bioluminescence rate in the open sea
4. Bioluminescence in marine snow
5. Cellular basis of bioluminescence triggering in marine dinoflagellates
6. Apparent-motion decoy mechanism in pennatulid bioluminescence
7. Firefly bioluminescent communication
8. Multi-year cycle of bioluminescence in the Southern California Bight from moored detectors

Examples of current work in progress:

Firefly Flash Communication

The present work is a return to a field that I have long neglected for marine studies on bioluminescence. We have constructed a computer controlled system which allows us to fly a male firefly on a direction recording pivot and experiment with its responses to real or artificial female responses. Thus we can carry into the laboratory behavior that otherwise would have to be studied in the field with far less rigorous methods.

The male performs normal patrol flights in the apparatus and its decision making in respect to female-like flash targets has been examined in detail . Our work is now shifting to another species with a much more complex flash code, Photuris pennsylvanica, which has been reported to imitate the flashes of other species with predatory intent. Generally, this new laboratory system seems to have great promise for study of aspects of insect vision, memory, and flight orientation to visual targets.

Eleven frames from a strobed I.R.-illuminated video showing a male Photinus pyralis flying attached to the recording pivot. His flashes are actually about 6 seconds apart. As the sequence begins he is flying towards a responding target somewhat to his right. The signal in the lower right of the figure indicates the first of responses from his left. He reacts by turning his head and body toward the new target. (If the image is not animated, you may have to click on it, hold down the button, and select Load Image [Navigator].)

Development of bioluminescence detectors

Over the years my group has developed a unique series of large instruments to sample marine bioluminescence as moored, vertically deployed and towed devices.

The HIDEX profiling bathyphotometer

These are currently in use to characterize the luminescence of the sea geographically and temporally for scientific and naval interests.

The TOWDEX and MOORDEX bathyphotometers for tow-yo and moored work.

We are now developing a very small luminescence detector for use on autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in the coastal zone where dinoflagellate luminescence abounds.

"Brer Lux", a small bathyphotometer for the REMUS AUV

Counterillumination in the midshipman fish, Porichthys notatus

Porichthys is a remarkable luminescent fish in that it must obtain its luciferin in the diet and has a life history that carries it from very shallow water nest sites into deep water.

At UCSB we are able to bring nests with embryos into the laboratory and hatch out and maintain young fish indefinitely in the laboratory. This provides a unique opportunity for study of neurally controlled bioluminescence in fish because all other luminescent fish that survive under laboratory conditions have luminescent symbiotic bacteria not under direct neural control.

Robert Harper and I have recently completed a study demonstrating that this fish counterilluminates with its ventral photophores and that this luminescence requires in addition to appropriate downwelling light, a hydromechanical stimulus, the latter being quite unique among counterilluminating organisms and perhaps related to the problem of conserving dietary luciferin. In this study predation experiments demonstrated for the first time that counterillumination does reduce predation.

 

1948-51: Johns Hopkins University - Ph.D. - Physiology.
1945-48 : University of Kansas - Zoology

Professional Experience

1994 - to date: Research Prof. Marine Biol., UCSB.
1995:  Acting Director, Ocean Modeling and Prediction Division, Office of Naval Research.
1987 - 96:  Associate Vice Chancellor - Research, UCSB.
1980 - 84:  Chair, Dept. Biological Sciences, UCSB.
1965 - 94:  Oceanographic Cruises: approx. 30: Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Banda Sea, N. & Central Pacific., N. & Central Atlantic, Caribbean: Field work New Guinea (3), Malaysia (4)
1962 - 1994:  Assoc. Prof. III - Prof. VIII, Biology, UCSB.
1958- 62:  Asst. - Assoc. Prof. Zoology., Univ. Iowa, Iowa City.
1957:  Postdoctoral, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA - Nerve-muscle Program.
1956:  Physiologist (neurophysiology) - Army Chem. Center, MD.
1951 - 55:  U.S. Army - Pvt. - Capt. ; Aviation Physiologist; Commanding Off., 9710th Tech. Svc. Unit, Chem. Corps, Army Chem. Center, Physiology Div.
1951:  Physiologist, US Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD.
1950:  Summer Instructor, Children's School of Science, Woods Hole, MA.
1949- 75:  Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA - Student (1949); Investigator, Instructor and later Instructor In Charge, Experimental Invertebrate Zoology (summers 1963-75).

Professional Activities and Awards, selected plus most recent

Bruce Fellow, Johns Hopkins
Sr. Queen's Fellow in Ocean Sciences, Australian Nat. Univ.
Fellow, Roy. Entomological Soc., Lond.
Fellow, Carnegie Institution of Washington
Fellow, AAAS (1966)
Trustee and Member Exec. Ctty. MBL (classes of '69 & '73)
Department of the Navy Superior Public Service Award (1995)
California Assembly Joint Commendation Resolution (1996)

Recent and Pending

Invited presentation to Electro-Optics Focus Group symposium, Office of Naval Research, January 1998.
Organized a session on "Bioluminescence and vision in the marine environment" for February 98 Ocean Sciences Meeting, American Geophysical Union.
Plenary address to 10th International Congress of Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, Bologna, 4 September 1998
Elected organizer of 11^th International Chemiluminescence and Bioluminescence Congress, Asilomar, CA. 6-10 Sept. 2000

The following Ph.D. students and R&D associates have been vital to the work of my laboratory:

Michel Anctil, Peter Anderson, Kellie (Fleisher) Ashton, Eldon Ball, Robert Beard, Steve Bernstein, Mark Bowlby, Albert Carlson, David Cook, Roger Farley, Tamara Frank, Helen Ghiradella, Alexandra Grutter, Steven Haddock, Kathryn Hamilton, Robert Harper, Christy Herren, Maura Jess, Cyril Johnson, Michael Latz, David Lapota, Kenneth Linberg, James Lindsey, Mark Lowenstine, Jill Marchant, Carrie McDougall, Allen Mensinger, John Moeller, Douglas Neilson, Donata Oertel, Lars Pedersen, Richard Satterlie, Katherine Smalley, Linda Strause, Edith Widder, Ann Wisehart, Richard Zimmer.