These thoughtful nature images were captured by scientists in action

See conservation science, evolutionary biology, and other important fields of study through an artistic lens.

By PopSci Staff | Published Aug 21, 2022 3:19 PM EDT

Parasitic fungi bursting from a fly's back in macro — **Overall winner:** The fruiting body of a parasitic fungus erupts from the body of a fly. Roberto García-Roa

Some people adopt photography as a profession; others do it as a hobby. But for researchers in the field or the lab, it’s often a hazard of the job.

The BMC Ecology and Evolution image competition makes space to celebrate those ultra-close, ultra-detailed, or ultra-rare candids every year. Chosen by the editors of the journal BioMed Central Ecology and Evolution, the winners and runner-ups consist of scientists from all around the world. The 2022 submissions fell into four categories: research in action, life closeup, biodiversity under threat, and relationships in nature.

The overall winner (seen above) was taken in the Tambopata National Reserve in Peru by evolutionary biologist and expert photographer Roberto García-Roa. It depicts ”spores of the so-called ‘Zombie’ fungus (e.g. genera Ophiocordyceps) that infect arthropods by infiltrating their exoskeleton and minds,” says García-Roa in a description for the contest. ”As a result, parasitized hosts are compelled to migrate to a more favorable location for the fungus’s growth. Here, they await death, at which point the fungus feeds on its host to produce fruiting bodies full of spores that will be jettisoned to infect more victims—a conquest shaped by thousands of years of evolution.”

See PopSci‘s picks from the final lineup below, and check the journal’s website for information on the 2023 competition soon.

Male wood frog underwater with cluster of eggs — **Biodiversity under threat runner-up**: A male wood frog clings to an egg mass. *Lindsey Swierk*

African elephants standing in shade of giant baobab tree on the savannah in black and white — **Biodiversity under threat**: A group of African elephants shelter from the sun under a baobab tree. *Samantha Kreling*

Waxwing bird taking flight with red berry in its beak with a snowy background — **Relationships in nature:** A waxwing feasts on fermented rowan berries. *Alwin Hardenbol*

Clump of brown and colorful ocean plastic in a petri dish — **Highly commended:** A seabird’s stomach full of plastic waste. *Marine Cusa*

Green tree frogs in the embryo stage clustered together — **Life closeup winner:** Gliding treefrog siblings at an early developmental stage. *Brandonl André Güell*

Researchers in yellow hazmat suits and COVID PPE under a starry sky at night — **Research in action:** Researchers perform fieldwork during thunderstorms in the COVID pandemic. *Jeferson Ribeiro Amaral*

Animals

Conservation

Wildlife

Photography