Capturing Ecology – Winners of British Ecological Society photography competition announced

 
The BES has revealed the winners of its annual photography competition ‘Capturing Ecology’. Taken by international ecologists and students, the images entered into the competition celebrate various aspects of ecology.

Featuring a variety of flora and fauna from around the world, subjects range from predators capturing and devouring their prey, artistic takes on woodlands to meerkat science in action.

The overall winner is Christopher Beirne, from the University of Exeter and Crees Foundation, with his image of an ocelot taking advantage of human-made nature trails to stalk its prey in Peru.

“The photograph was taken in an area of land, which was completely cleared for agriculture 30-50 years ago. Documenting the wildlife that has returned as the forest has recovered was not only a real privilege, it has also changed my perspective on the value of degraded land in tropical areas”, Beirne said.

Dr Hazel Norman, Executive Director at the British Ecological Society, commented: “Christopher’s image is a spectacular entry. He managed to capture an incredibly elusive and skittish wild cat which is primarily active during the night.

“Our judges had a difficult task to choose from many impressive entries this year. Some of the images demonstrated interactions between different species in their natural environment, which can be complex and difficult to capture. We congratulate all winners and thank all the participants for their submissions“, Dr Norman added.

The winning images will be exhibited at ‘Ecology across Borders’, the Society’s joint annual meeting in December, which will bring together 1,500 ecologists from around 60 countries to discuss the latest advances in ecological research across the whole discipline.

The independent judging panel included five eminent ecologists and award-winning wildlife photographers.

 
The full list of winners is as follows:

Overall winner: Christopher Beirne, University of Exeter and Crees Foundation, On the trail, ocelot during the night in Peru

Overall runner-up: Mark Tatchell, Toco toucan looking back

Overall student winner: Leejiah Dorward, University of Oxford, I see you, flap-necked chameleon in Tanzania

Category 1 – Up close and personal
An image displaying the intricacy of nature using close-up or macro photography.

Winner: Roberto García Roa, University of Valencia, White silk, Anolis lizard changing skin

Student winner: Karen O’Neill, KerryLIFE and University of Dundee, Canopy bubble, showing the reflection of trees in water

Category 2 – Dynamic ecosystems
Demonstrating interactions between different species within an ecosystem.

Winner: Zoe Davies, University of Kent, Salmon run, a brown bear catching sockeye salmon in Alaska

Student winner: Leejiah Dorward, University of Oxford, Venomous vine, a savanna vine snake struggles with a speckle fronted weaver in Tanzania

Category 3 – Individuals and populations
A unique look at a species in its environment, either alone or as part of a population.

Winner: Nilanjan Chatterjee, Wildlife Institute of India, Crossing the line, a tiger with her cub

Student winner: Leejiah Dorward, University of Oxford, Shivering sylph, a long tailed sylph shakes of rain drops after a tropical shower in Colombia

Category 4 – Ecology and society
A look at how people and society engage with wildlife and their environment.

Winner: Leejiah Dorward, University of Oxford, Home sweet home, a nycterid bat triggers a camera trap

Student winner: Adam Rees, Plymouth University, Female leatherback turtle gets into trouble

Category 5 – Ecology in action
Showcasing the practice of ecology in action.

Winner: Dominic Cram, University of Cambridge, Meerkat morning weights

Student winner: Nick Harvey, University of Manchester and Chester Zoo, A sedated giant, white rhino in South Africa

Category 6 – The art of ecology
A creative and original take on photography denoting ecology.

Winner: Jesamine Bartlett, University of Birmingham and British Antarctic Survey, Divided, a crack in a Swedish lake stretches the entire width of the lake, dividing the white ice with a deep black scar

Student winner: Sanne Govaert, Ghent University, The jar effect, a butterfly in a used transparent container