Amazing close-up photo shows tiny warrior organism fighting climate change.

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This remarkable image of a coccolithophorus, entitled “Ocean Warriors”, is one of 12 finalists for the 2024 Beaker Street Science Photography Prize and was chosen because it demonstrates the scientific value of specialized photographic equipment or photographic processes.

The image was taken by Luke Brokensha, a research fellow and plankton ecologist at the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania in Hobart. It was obtained using a scanning electron microscope from a sample collected by the Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Record (SO-CPR) program.

The image shows Calcidiscus leptoporus, a coccolithophorus found drifting in the Southern Ocean. Coccolithophores are single-celled organisms that perform photosynthesis to create energy, which in turn produces the oxygen we breathe. They construct many complex armor plates of calcium carbonate that they cover themselves with to protect their delicate internal cells from predators. By harnessing photosynthesis and producing these armored plates, they have become important warriors in the fight against climate change, contributing to the biological carbon pump that pulls carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for processing or storage in the deep ocean.

Brokenshie’s research focuses on the Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recording (SO-CPR) program funded by IMOS (Integrated Marine Observing System). This program collects samples of plankton found in surface waters between the Australian and Antarctic continents. These data are used to track and map trends and changes in plankton communities over time, and to assess the impact of climate change on the Southern Ocean. In his spare time, Luke enjoys mountaineering, hiking, surfing and canoeing; make the most of the many outdoor adventures Tasmania has to offer.

Beaker Street’s annual Science Photography Awards invites all Tasmanians to showcase the wonders of the world of science and scientists. The Beaker Street Festival presents a program of scientific entertainment and discussion. The festival grounds cover Hobart’s cultural and entertainment districts, including City Hall, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the Hope & Anchor Tavern, the Old Mercury Building in Salamanca, and many of Hobart’s finest pubs, bars and restaurants. Next year’s festival will take place from August 12 to 19, 2025. More information can be found at www.beakerstreet.com.au.

To see more Beaker Street Science Photography Prize finalists, visit www.beakerstreet.com.au/photography-prize.

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