A captivating image of a luminescent frog perched atop a rare, glowing ghost mushroom has been crowned the People’s Choice winner at the annual Beaker Street Science Photography Competition in Tasmania. The photograph, taken by Toby Schrapel, showcases a mesmerizing display of nature’s bioluminescent wonders.
The image features a blue light reflecting off the eyes and skin of a biofluorescent brown tree frog (Litoria ewingii) as it rests on a funnel-shaped ghost fungus (Omphalotus nidiformis). The ghost fungus, aptly named for its eerie glow during the night, is a rare gilled mushroom native to Australia and Tasmania. Its trumpet-shaped body, while appearing white or pale brown during the day, transforms into a mesmerizing spectacle at night as its gills emit a green glow thanks to the process of bioluminescence. This chemical reaction, involving enzymes and oxygen, creates light similar to the glow of fireflies.
Schrapel’s journey to capture this extraordinary scene involved weeks of searching for the elusive ghost mushroom. He received a tip from a friend about a pine plantation at the Seven Mile Beach Coastal Reserve, and after searching diligently, he stumbled upon the remarkable sight of the frog perched on the mushroom. Recognizing the unique opportunity, Schrapel illuminated the amphibian with ultraviolet (UV) light, revealing a brilliant blue glow. This allowed him to capture both the bioluminescence of the mushroom and the biofluorescence of the frog in a single frame.
Biofluorescence, as explained by Schrapel, occurs when a living organism’s surface absorbs light at one wavelength and re-emits it at another. This phenomenon, along with bioluminescence, is widespread in the animal kingdom and may serve as a communication tool for tree frogs. The function of bioluminescence in fungi remains less understood, but one theory suggests that the soft glow attracts insects that aid in spore dispersal.
The photograph was announced as the People’s Choice winner at the Beaker Street’s annual Science Photography Prize on September 8. Other finalists included a group of endangered red handfish (Thymichthys politus) embryos born in captivity, the plated armor of a microscopic algae, and a bright red mite with spindly legs. Photographer Andrea Williamson’s image of the red handfish embryos, captured at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), was declared the Judges Choice winner.
This year’s Beaker Street competition showcased the incredible diversity and beauty of the natural world, highlighting the power of photography to illuminate the wonders of science and inspire a deeper appreciation for the planet.
