The overall winning image, entitled ‘Sparring Saigas on the Steppe’ by Andrey Giljov of Saint Petersburg State University, Russia, presents an evocative moment of interaction between two male saiga antelopes (Saiga tatarica) on the open banks of a Central Asian steppe lake. Recognizable by their distinctive bulbous nasal structures, these antelopes have evolved this unique adaptation as a specialized respiratory filter to cope with dusty environments and extreme temperature fluctuations. Giljov’s photograph masterfully conveys the tense energy of a sparring match, highlighting the species’ behavioral ecology during the breeding season.

Capturing this extraordinary natural behavior required considerable stealth and technical expertise. Giljov recounts that the team established a camouflaged hide near what they refer to as a “social arena,” meticulously concealed in darkness to avoid disturbing the animals. Saigas, known for their skittishness toward human presence, demand such unobtrusive observation strategies, which are fundamental in behavioral ecology studies aiming to document authentic interactions without anthropogenic influence. This approach underscores the synergy of scientific rigor and patience essential in wildlife photography.

Expert commentary from the senior editorial members of BMC Ecology and Evolution underscores the potency of the image. Christy Hipsley reflects on the stark juxtaposition captured: a pastel-hued, serene backdrop against the imminent violence of territorial combat. Such imagery embodies the relentless challenges faced by saigas, a species having endured Ice Age climatic shifts, habitat degradation, and intense poaching pressures. The image invites a poignant question of survival and resilience amidst anthropogenic threats. Meanwhile, David Ferrier praises the photograph’s composition, emphasizing how it encapsulates the raw energy of inter-male competition and the morphological distinctiveness of these enigmatic antelopes.

The competition further honored remarkable contributions across four specialized categories, each representing themes aligned with contemporary ecological and evolutionary research. The Collective and Social Behaviour category winner was a detailed macro photograph of newly hatched nymphs of Acanthocoris scaber, captured by Sritam Kumar Sethy from Berhampur University, India. This image reveals the adaptive significance of clustering behavior in nymph stages, providing enhanced protection against predation and optimized access to resources such as moisture critical for exoskeletal development. Sethy’s work illuminates early survival strategies fundamental to insect life histories, emphasizing intraspecific cooperation.

Complementing Sethy’s insights, the runner-up in this category features a nurturing mother burying beetle (Nicrophorus vespilloides) feeding her larvae on a decomposing mouse carcass. This behavior exemplifies sophisticated parental care among insects with complex social structures, shedding light on evolutionary adaptations in resource allocation and reproductive success. Nick Royle from the University of Exeter, UK, whose photograph earned this recognition, highlights how such detailed observations contribute to understanding the evolutionary ecology of insect life cycles.

The Life in Motion category winner presents an artistic yet scientifically grounded reconstruction of three pterosaurs in flight over the Jurassic Hebridean Basin, created by Natalia Jagielska of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Utilizing fossil data analyzed through X-ray microtomography, Jagielska’s work reconstructs the body morphology of Dearc sgiathanach, providing hypotheses about its aerodynamic capabilities and predatory behaviors. This research exemplifies the integration of paleontological data and modern imaging technologies to elucidate evolutionary transitions, revealing how these prehistoric reptiles adapted to terrestrial and aerial niches in the Middle Jurassic.

A remarkable photograph capturing a breaching humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Norway earned a runner-up position in this category, highlighting the challenges of documenting dynamic marine mammal behaviors in situ. Alwin Hardenbol, from the Natural Resources Institute Finland, had mere seconds to seize this display of cetacean agility and power, which informs studies on whale migration, social interaction, and responses to environmental variables.

Colorful Strategies is another cluster of evolutionary marvels celebrated in this competition. Abhijeet Bayani of the Indian Institute of Science received top honors for his close-up image of a deimatic display in a beetle species. The beetle employs aposematic signaling — sudden color changes and threatening postures — to deter predators, a vivid example of evolutionary arms races and visual communication in insects. Bayani narrates the beetle’s aggressive headbutting behavior toward the camera, an extraordinary insight into how insect sensory perception and behavioral repertoires operate under predation threat.

Runner-up status in this category was awarded to an image capturing the near-invisible camouflage of an Asian grass frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) against tree bark. The photograph, taken by Sritam Kumar Sethy, elegantly spotlights crypsis as a survival tactic, serving dual purposes in predator avoidance and prey ambush. Such visual strategies are pivotal focal points in evolutionary biology and ecology, informing theories on natural selection and habitat specialization.

The Research in Action category shines a spotlight on technological advances facilitating ecological fieldwork. Nick Royle’s winning image depicts a male blue ground beetle (Carabus intricatus) poised for fitting with a miniature radio tag, enabling detailed monitoring of its spatial movements and behavioral ecology. This technique embodies a critical methodological evolution in entomological studies, allowing real-time data gathering on elusive species crucial for informing conservation strategies. The emphasis on integrating technology to address conservation challenges is a continuing theme in modern biodiversity sciences.

Runner-up in Research in Action features an evocative camera trap image of a capercaillie family (Tetrao urogallus) nesting in Scotland’s Cairngorms. Submitted by Jack Bamber of the University of Aberdeen, this image underscores the utility of unobtrusive monitoring tools in documenting life history traits and breeding success in vulnerable avian species, thereby enhancing ecological data quality for conservation planning.

Beyond the winners, several honorable mentions provide captivating glimpses into life’s diversity and intricacies. Among these is ‘The Lookout’ by Alwin Hardenbol, portraying a barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) vigilant during its migratory stopover in Finland. The frame captures the evolutionary trade-offs of migratory birds balancing energy expenditure with predation risk. Jonathan Goldenberg’s ‘Spot me if you can’ photograph of a jewelled gecko (Naultinus gemmeus), acclaimed in the Colourful Strategies category, epitomizes the evolutionary refinement of cryptic coloration mirroring native foliage, reinforcing the evolutionary interplay between phenotype and environment.

All competition finalists and winners are freely accessible under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, fostering open scientific communication and public engagement with the beauty and complexity of ecological and zoological phenomena. This open-access policy aligns with the broader mission of Springer Nature to disseminate scientific knowledge widely, particularly in advancing understanding related to key Sustainable Development Goals focusing on water, life below water, and life on land.

The BMC Ecology and Evolution and BMC Zoology image competition not only celebrates stunning imagery but also bridges research disciplines encompassing population genetics, conservation biology, behavioral ecology, systematics, paleontology, and biodiversity informatics. As the competition continues to grow in prestige and participation, it emphasizes the power of imagery as a scientific communication tool, inspiring both the academic community and the wider public to appreciate and protect our planet’s rich biological heritage.

Subject of Research: Animals

Article Title: 2025 joint BMC Ecology and Evolution and BMC Zoology image competition: the winning images

News Publication Date: 15-Aug-2025

Web References: DOI link

Image Credits: Andrey Giljov (overall winner, Sparring Saigas on the Steppe), Sritam Kumar Sethy, Natalia Jagielska, Nick Royle, Alwin Hardenbol, Abhijeet Bayani, Jack Bamber, Jonathan Goldenberg

The research provides essential insights into the ecological and evolutionary processes that render tropical forests as prominent centers of biodiversity. While the team’s primary focus was not on identifying compounds beneficial to humans, the findings reassert the immense potential of these forests as natural chemical producers, or “factories,” supplying substances of significant medical relevance. Jonathan Myers, a biology professor at Washington University, noted the implications these diverse chemical productions could have on human health, stating, “Tropical plants produce a huge diversity of chemicals that have practical implications for human health.”

Supporting this extensive study was the National Science Foundation (NSF) along with the Living Earth Collaborative, an initiative synergizing the efforts of Washington University, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Saint Louis Zoo. The research was published in the high-profile journal Ecology and led by David Henderson, a former graduate student specializing in ecology and evolution. The collaborative effort included fond contributions from Missouri Botanical Garden researchers and ecological experts from institutions like the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

This enlightening research gathered and analyzed leaves collected as part of the Madidi Project, a comprehensive flora survey in Bolivia’s Madidi region, which is nestled in the Andes mountains. The researchers aimed to focus particularly on the chemical compounds that plants utilize to defend against threats such as insect herbivores and various pathogens—a pressing concern for biodiversity located in the tropically warm and humid environments. Their goal was to elucidate how these chemical defenses varied among tree species residing in varying environments characterized by altitude and climate variations.

Employing a powerful technique known as mass spectrometry, which allows for the precise identification and quantification of individual molecules within a sample, the researchers unearthed a remarkable diversity of chemical compounds. Myers emphasized the success of their approach, stating, “We identified more than 20,000 unique metabolites in leaf samples from 470 tree species. It’s an amazing level of chemical diversity.” The intricate interplay of these compounds marks a pivotal achievement in understanding tropical chemical ecology.

Among the array of chemical compounds discovered, terpenoids comprised over one-third of the total identified. This particular class of natural chemicals serves as a vital line of defense for plants against a variety of threats, including insects and diseases. Additionally, these terpenoids exhibit promising potential in pharmaceutical applications, showcasing efficacy in combating cancer, alleviating inflammation, and targeting harmful viruses and bacteria. Moreover, another significant portion of the identified compounds included alkaloids, renowned for forming the foundation of numerous medications such as pain relievers, anti-malarial drugs, and cancer treatments.

The extensive chemical diversity observed within tropical forests underscores the critical need for ongoing research and the conservation of these biodiversity hotspots. Myers and his colleagues are committed to contributing the findings from their project towards the establishment of a global database compiling chemical compounds isolated from plants. “With such a database, researchers could look for unique chemicals that could have real value for society,” he asserted, signifying a call to action for further exploration into plant-derived chemical treasures.

Throughout the study, the research team delved into analyzing the chemical diversity of tree species and their leaf metabolites within wet and seasonally dry forest environments. These environments spanned a considerable altitudinal range, from around 2,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level. It was apparent that the frequency of species encounters decreased with rising altitude, leading to pivotal insights about biodiversity patterns. For instance, they noted the presence of nearly 140 distinct tree species in a mere 1-hectare plot at 4,000 feet, declining sharply to less than 20 species at altitudes approaching 11,000 feet.

This decline in species variety was mirrored by a corresponding reduction in chemical diversity among tree species. In higher altitudes, distinct tree species displayed a tendency to utilize similar chemical defenses. Conversely, lower elevation tropics yielded a vibrant tapestry of chemical strategies employed by various species. This chemical differentiation serves as a survival mechanism; when neighboring trees share similar chemical compositions, they face vulnerability to the same threats. Myers explained that for any given tree, a unique chemical profile is essential to deter herbivores and pathogens, thereby enhancing chances for survival and reproduction.

The correlation between species diversity and chemical diversity is far from relegated to the tropics. Myers is involved with an NSF-funded project investigating trees in various ecosystems across the globe. This research encompasses lowland regions of the Amazon and areas in northern Canada, including local studies at Washington University’s Tyson Research Center. Although the diverse array of tree species found in Tyson cannot compare to those in tropical ecosystems, the species there still maintain a substantial level of chemical diversity when juxtaposed against the coniferous forests of the more northern latitudes.

By examining climate factors in tandem with biodiversity, researchers may uncover why chemical diversity operates hand in hand with species diversity. Warmer, wetter, and more stable climates foster higher species diversity. Simultaneously, these conditions motivate plants to develop unique chemical defenses that deter specific herbivores and pathogens from targeting them. Myers pointed out that this relationship could illuminate broader trends in plant diversity and ecological functioning on a global scale.

The implications of this research are profound, as they highlight the urgent need for the conservation of tropical forests and showcase their untapped potential as sources for novel medicinal compounds. The distinctive chemistry of tropical flora affirms the integral role these ecosystems play not just in maintaining ecological balance but also in supporting human health—marking them as invaluable resources for current and future generations.

This study not only broadens our horizon of understanding concerning biodiversity within tropical forests but sets a hopeful framework for utilizing this knowledge in the realms of medicine and agriculture, ultimately emphasizing that the protection of such habitats is essential in sustaining both ecological and human health.

Subject of Research: Chemical diversity of tropical forests
Article Title: Testing the role of biotic interactions in shaping elevational diversity gradients: An ecological metabolomics approach
News Publication Date: 10-Apr-2025
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Keywords: Tropical forests, biodiversity, chemical diversity, terpenoids, alkaloids, ecological research, plant chemistry, medicine, conservation.