Just for fun, one of the famous videos of a fish spitting out a glowing ostracod after the latter's anti-predator display

This review was a challenge for me, as it is quite broad and a bit outside my core expertise. But I learned a lot. I feel like I never really achieved a true synthesis in the time I had, but I have started down that path and will keep thinking!

In terms of differences - bright light visual information systems often diversify quickly in color space, but bioluminescent systems diversify quickly in spatial and temporal aspects (although bioluminescence tends to track environmental light)

One hypothesis is that bioluminescent systems first originated for predator-prey dynamics, and were later co-opted as sexual signals. This is an area ripe for meta-analysis

In terms of similarity - both have probably led to aesthetic radiations, the diversification of traits and species driven by sexual selection. Another similarity is that that sensory capabilities predate the radiation of signals

I try to compare and contrast how evolution has molded dark (bioluminescent) and bright (especially color) visual information systems

I am happy to share a new review article, as part of a future special issue on vision in challenging environments, led by @fishevo.bsky.social and @drfishvis.bsky.social