| Biting off more than it can chew |
Word Count: c. 150 |
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Describing the predatory antics of
the greedy house geckos in northern Queensland, Australia.
“...crunching through the tough exoskeleton” |
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| Bottled Slugs |
Word Count: c. 150 |
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| Explaining why a small, 4cm long,
blind sea slug (Glaucus atlanticus) likes nothing more than to
predate the 30 metre long tentacles of the Portuguese Man-O-War
(Physalia physalis), despite the fact that these stingers contain
enough poison to hospitalise humans! “...every millimetre of
the tentacles packs a most poisonous punch” |
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| Eyes in Their Anus ! |
Word Count: c. 150 |
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Describing the unusual location of
the optical apparatus involved in the compound eyes of corycaeid
copepods.
“...retina projects below the body as an external pouch alongside
the anus!” |
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| Light ’n’ Life |
Word Count: c. 150 |
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Describing the intriguing illuminating
abilities of tropical dinoflagellates, microscopic marine creatures.
“...light may have been a bi-product of metabolism”
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| Slimy Duel of Death |
Word Count: c. 150 |
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Describing the predatory tactics
of the blind Blue Sea Slug (Glaucus atlanticus) upon the mucus
covered Blue Sea Star (Porpita porpita).
“...ready to lash-out in ambush fashion, like an uncoiling spring” |
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| Squidlings |
Word Count: c. 180 |
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Describing the unusual capture and
subsequent hatching of these diminutive, gelatinous, squid-like
creatures that have yet to be identified.
“...gelatinous cylinder almost 2 metres in length!” |
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| Less Sapphire, More Opal (article) |
Word Count: c. 260 |
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| Describing the extraordinarily irridescent,
rainbow-coloured male Sapphirina, that belongs to the group of
crustaceans called copepods, known as ‘insects of the sea’. “...the
size of a very small fish scale, equally as flat and even more
transparent” |
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| The Humble Heteropod (article) |
Word Count: c. 300 |
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Describing one of the most widespread
and successful groups of the plankton predators - the heteropods
- a bizarre group of pelagic molluscs.
“...conveyor belt of razor sharp teeth can rasp nasty holes in
unwary fingers” |
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| The Sophisticated Ciliate (article) |
Word Count: c. 300 |
|
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Describing the incredible complexity
of Paramecium - a single-celled organism.
“...with a digestive system almost as complex as our own!” |
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| The Blue Sea Star (article) |
Word Count: c. 350 |
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Documenting the unusual colour morphs,
varying from sulphur yellow to aquamarine, of the delicate yet
deadly chondrophoran Porpita porpita.
“...the water was awash with blue sea stars, drifting at the oceans
surface” |
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| Surprisingly Dead, Surprisingly
Mobile (article) |
Word Count: c. 350 |
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Telling the life story of the surface
drifting blues brother, the Portuguese Man-O-War (Physalia physalis)
and its endless struggle for survival against all odds.
“...the longest animal, with the most lethal sting is a mere
surface drifter!” |
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| Nipper Power (article) |
Word Count: c. 350 |
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| Describing the tireless struggle
of the small crab (Trapezia) to protect the coral of the Great
Barrier Reef from the marauding Crown of Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster
planci). “...the marauders are at least five hundred times
the crab’s mass!” |
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| Variable, Verdant Volvox |
Word Count: c. 350 |
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Describing why the common freshwater
algae, Volvox, is in fact one of the most miraculous simple
life forms on the planet!
“...grandaughters spin within daughters, who in turn spin within
parents” |
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| The Master Class for Eyes (article) |
Word Count: c. 350 |
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Describing the diversity of optical
abilities of the amphipods. Ranging from individuals who are completely
blind to those that have the most advanced compound eyes in the
animal kingdom.
“...converted their entire head region into spectacular, prismatic
compound eyes!” |
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| Arresting Arums |
Word Count: c. 350 |
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Describing the unusual pollination
mechanism of the British species’ of Arum Lily who entice, deceive
and finally kidnap their chosen pollinators.
“...enticement under false pretences!” |
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| Spawning & Sperm Packaging (article) |
Word Count: c. 450 |
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Describing the complex nature of sperm packaging
that accompanies coral spawning and the subsequent orgy of sexual
activity and predation.
“...steadily billions of wriggling spermatozoa swim free”
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| Mating Mandarinfish of Yap (article) |
Word Count: c. 650 |
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Describing the elegant mating dance of of small,
multi-coloured mandarinfish in the Philippines.
“...These psychedelic leftovers from the sixties are part of
the Dragonet fish family."
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| Thresher Sharks of Monad Shoal |
Word Count: c. 750 |
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Describing a rare and magical encounter with
a number of elusive Thresher Sharks while they wait to be cleaned
of parasites, off Malapascua island in the Philippines.
“...Monad Shoal is the only place on the planet where Thresher
sharks are known to congregate."
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| Ballistic Fish (article) |
Word Count: c. 700 |
|
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Exploits in the field describing
the playful antics of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
“...the fish rose from the launch pad like a ballistic missile” |
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| A Bright End to a Dull Day (article) |
Word Count: c. 800 |
|
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Describing a unique diving experience
in plankton rich waters, surrounded by a whole host of bizarre
and rarely seen larval forms.
“... surfacing through one of the most diverse plankton swarms
we’d ever seen!” |
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| Slap-unhappy (article) |
Word Count: c. 900 |
|
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Describing the unusual commensal
relationship between the Portuguese Man-O-War (Physalia physalis)
and its ever faithful nomeid fish who would risk death and desiccation
for its comrade.
“...from somewhere behind me I heard a staccato rattling sound” |
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| Saltwater Crocodile Encounter
(article)
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Word Count: c. 1000 |
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Describing a very rare
close encounter with the endangered Saltwater Crocodile - accompanied
by a range of stunning images - even some close-ups!
“... I was able to finish all three rolls of film without incident
except for a few teeth marks on the lens hood!” |
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| Octopus Encounter (article) |
Word Count: c. 1000 |
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Describing the first hand experience
of the lightning reactions of the 1 metre long, suckered tentacles
of a large octopus found on the shores of Bermuda.
“...four sucker-covered arms whipped up and latched onto my sandal-clad
foot!” |
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