Royal Society Of Biology Photography Competition 2021 Winners

Here are the winners and shortlisted photos of The Royal Society of Biology’s annual photography competition 2021. With more than 1600 submissions around the world in the theme of “interconnected”.

The title of Photographer of the Year went to Vishwanath Birje, for his stunning image of ants feeding off honeydew excreted by a yellow aphid. The photo captures the mutualistic relationship between the ants and the aphid, with the ants providing protection from predators and pests in return for food.

Congratulations to all the winners. Click on the Full Gallery link to view full set of photographs.

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#1 Winner: Mutualism by Vishwanath Birje, India

The mutualistic relationship between ant and aphid. The ants consume honeydew excreted by a yellow aphid, and in return the ants protect the aphid from other organisms such as red mites.

#2 Runner-up: Hon Yen marine ecosystem by Truong Hoai Vu, Vietnam

Every year between May and August, the coral of this rich and diverse ecosystem becomes exposed at low tide.

#3 Highly Commended: Watering hole antics by Hayden Wood, Kenya

A pair of Grevy’s zebra drink from a watering hole

#4 Shortlisted: The hunt by Ripan Biswas, India

The interaction between the jewel wasp and cockroach is anything but friendly. The jewel wasp injects venom into the cockroach’s brain, paralysing the latter. The wasp then lays an egg in the zombified cockroach.

#5 Shortlisted: Spiderman of our body by Chanchal Sur Chowdhury, USA

Immune cells communicate with each other to protect our body from invading foreign particles or micro-organisms. Here, neutrophil cells (light blue) release web-like structures (yellow) to defend against tuberculosis bacteria (pink).

#6 Winner: Submerged by Roan Jones, UK

A tyre being reclaimed by nature in the Vallis Forest, Somerset, showing the connection between people and the natural world.

#7 Shortlisted: Solar power plant by Gu Guanghui, China

A large group of night herons perch on solar power panels at dusk.

#8 Shortlisted: Family quarrel by Alfonso Roldán Losada, Spain

Bee-eaters are easily spotted birds because of their colours. They spend most of their time flying in search of insects.

#9 Shortlisted: The plague by Henry Harte, Kenya

In 2019, Kenya and most of east Africa saw its worst locust outbreak in 70 years. Varying weather due to climate change and travel and shipping restrictions have meant the outbreaks are getting larger and harder to control

#10 Shortlisted: A tiny gathering by John Ishide Bulanadi, Philippines

A small group of thief ants are gathered to enjoy a few drops of syrup on top of a wax apple leaf.

#11 Runner-up: Fractals by Alice Feng, UK

The patterns in this image are of Bacillus subtilis being grown on a dextrose agar plate. The patterns form depending on the conditions of the bacteria’s environment and how bacterial cells move after coming into contact with each other.