Using fluorescence and bioluminescence sensors to characterize auto- and heterotrophic plankton communities

•Plankton proxies were developed using in situ data and applied to AUV datasets.•Bioluminescence proxies represent dinoflagellates and different sorts of zooplankton.•Fluorescence was used to separate auto- vs heterotrophic dinos vs other phytoplankton.•The proxies provide a novel view of phyto- and zooplankton interaction in the sea.