Biology Photos of the Month

These photos and the stories that go with them give close-up looks at a variety of different organisms. The goals of these photos and stories are to give short lessons on a variety of different biological topics and to inspire a greater appreciation for the diversity of life. Some of the featured organisms are common animals, plants, or microorganisms found here in Minnesota, while others are more exotic, but all are interesting. Indeed, all organisms have interesting stories if one knows enough about their biology and natural history.

New photos and stories are not necessarily added monthly (indeed, there have been some long gaps!), but do check back periodically for updates. I have many additional photos and stories to tell, which will appear gradually as I find the time to put together the web pages.

Most of these Photo of the Month pages are put together by me, Bill Capman, but other Augsburg biology faculty and a student have also written a few.

I hope you enjoy the photos. Feel free to e-mail me if you have questions or comments.

Bill Capman

 

Fall 2007

Migrating Flycatcher Details

 

September - October 2003

Ladybird beetle larva Details

 

July - August 2003

Winged aphid Details

 

May - June 2003

Clownfish egg Details

 

March - April 2003

Nitrogen-fixing root nodules Details

 

January-February 2003

Scallop eyes Details

Update - November 2003
Scallop photo on cover of British Journal of Ophthalmology

 

December 2002

Red marine algae Details

 

November 2002

Pseudoscorpions - Unfamiliar but very common tiny arthropods Details

 

October 2002

Damselfly nymph covered with colonial ciliates Details

 

September 2002

Tropical fungi Details

 

July - August 2002

Black-winged damselfly . Details

 

May-June 2002

The hazards of migration. Details

 

April 2002

Swimming, swarming, spawning polychaete worms. Includes movie clip. Details

 

March 2002

Lettuce sea slug; a solar powered sea slug that carries out photosynthesis using stolen chloroplasts. Details

Update - June 2002
Click here for expanded version of article in Reefkeeping magazine.

 

February 2002

Amorphophallus konjac, a plant that tricks carrion- feeding insects into pollinating its flowers. Details