Study
Circadian control sheds light on fungal bioluminescence
Oliveira, Anderson G.; Stevani, Cassius V.; Waldenmaier, Hans E.; Viviani, Vadim; Emerson, Jillian M.; Loros, Jennifer J.; Dunlap, Jay C.
Current Biology, 2015
Light output from a Brazilian luminescent fungus was monitored across day–night cycles under laboratory control, and acrylic replica mushrooms fitted with LEDs were placed in the field alongside dark controls to measure what the glow attracts.
- Studied in
- Neonothopanus gardneri
- Sample size
- luminescent fungi monitored across light cycles, plus field traps
Luminescence is under circadian control, peaking at night rather than glowing constantly. Lit replicas attracted substantially more beetles, flies and other arthropods than unlit ones.
What it means
The authors' reading, and ours. Where they differ, that difference is the point.
How the authors put it
Fungal bioluminescence is regulated to coincide with darkness and functions at least partly to attract arthropods that disperse spores.
How NatureHQ reads it
The LED replica is what makes this persuasive: a plastic mushroom that glows and contains nothing edible still draws insects, so the attraction is to the light itself rather than to smell or food. It converts a long-standing "why do fungi glow" curiosity — where by-product-of-metabolism was the standing answer — into a dispersal story with a controlled test behind it.
- One species in one habitat; bioluminescence has evolved several times in fungi and need not always serve dispersal.
- Attraction to light is demonstrated; actual spore transport by the attracted arthropods is inferred.
- Many luminescent fungi glow in mycelium rather than fruiting bodies, which this does not address.
Fake glowing mushrooms in a Brazilian forest
Do luminescent fungi glow for a reason, or is the light just a by-product of their chemistry?
What this study is used for on NatureHQ
One study can inform several subjects. Here is everywhere this one is cited.
Published by: Cell PressPublished in a Cell Press journal.
doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.02.021
This reference was resolved automatically against Crossref on 2026-08-11.
NatureHQ summarises research in its own words and does not reproduce published text. Reviewed 2026-08-10.