to being easily cultivated in a controlled environment at home and in classrooms for study. P. fusiformis is commonly grown for science and art projects. Because P. fusiformis is important to scientific study as it only flashes when agitated and could be utilized in flow visualization to help spot differences in water flow or disruption of water by predators. P. fusiformis can also be used as a bioassay tool in order to detect pollutants in marine waters. Scientists measure the amount of light that P. fusiformis (and other dinoflagellates) emits in order to measure the effects of pollution since the amount of light produced is related to how healthy these organisms are. P. fusiformis is also the main subject of a series of works by artist Erika Blumenfeld who has shown her work in museums and galleries around the world. Her large scale photographs demonstrate the blue color that P. fusiformis produces when agitated. Working with scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Blumenfeld photographs P. fusiformis in order to "activate a dialogue about our natural environment and our relationship to it." References Further note Illustration on outer cover and note on inner cover. Species described in 1885 Gonyaulacales Bioluminescent dinoflagellates