Decomposition Collection (#2)

RF - Camouflaged moth (Agathia codina) Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. September

Close up of decaying Sycamore leaf (Acer pseudoplatanus) Devon, England, November 2008

Illustration for The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, 1900. Artist: Edmund Joseph Sullivan
Illustration for The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, 1900. From Modern Pen Drawings: European and American, Edited by Charles Holme. [The Offices of the Studio, London, Paris, New York, 1900-01]

Apparatus for the decomposition of water, aka water splitting. This is the chemical reaction in which water is broken down into oxygen and hydrogen. From The Household Physician, published c.1898

Dead leaves with a layer of frost, Tea Creek Mountain Trail - Pocahontas County, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia, United States of America

Weathered shipwreck on a beach, Devon, Great Britain
Colourful weathered shipwreck lying in sand dunes at Crow Point, at the mouth of the Taw and Torridge Rivers, near Barnstaple, Devon, Great Britain; Devon, England

Autumn leaves on a rock
Fallen leaves in a colourful display on a rock in autumn in the Laurentides; Quebec, Canada

Close-Up of Backside of Red Maple Leaf on Forest Floor Amongst Brown Decomposed Leaves

Pleurotus ostreatus, oyster mushroom
Shown here is the fan-shaped oyster mushroom fungus. This specimen originates from the Natural History Museum, London

Interference patterns in a frozen pond. containing thin films of oil. The oil has been released by decomposing leaves at the surface of the pond

Mouldy bread. The white areas are fungal mycelia, masses of thread-like structures (hyphae) that absorb nutrients. The blue-green areas are the fungal spores (reproductive structures)

A bolete fungus
ROG-12837 A bolete fungus Leccinum aurantiacum Bob Gibbons Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Two Drawings of the Bony Structure of the Head, c1480 (1945). Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Two Drawings of the Bony Structure of the Head, c1480 (1945). From The Drawings of Leonardo da Vinci. [Reynal & Hitchcock, New York, 1945]

Apparatus for the decomposition of water

Davy decomposes alkali with the battery of Volta (1807)

One of the elephants killed by Sudanese poachers on 5 March 2012, Bouba-Ndjida National Park, Cameroon, Central Africa, Africa

Wood structure

Picture No. 11074064
Amethyst Deceiver clump in shady woodland Wilts, UK

Rancid vegetable oil washed up on beach, Chesil Beach, Dorset, England, February

Rancid vegetable oil amongst rubbish washed up on beach, Chesil Beach, Dorset, England, February

Space-filling Models showing the Molecules in Decomposition of Sugar to Ethanol and Carbon Dioxide during Fermentation

Several blowfly larvae in group

Cylinder Millipedes (Julidae) curled on rotting log, view from above

Africano Sanguigno, marble
Polished specimen of the metamorphic rock marble from a ruin of ancient Rome

Grannys bonnets (gregarious elf caps ) (clustered bonnet) fungi (Mycena inclinata) growing from rotten treestump, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Dead camel in the desert, Middle East, WW1
A dead camel in an advanced state of decomposition, photographed during a march through the desert to Palestine during the First World War. Date: 1917

Decomposing whale carcass
The decomposing body of a Sei whale, washed ashore on the beach at Suez on 3 January 1950 following a storm, surrounded by intrigiued onlookers

View of sand dunes comprising of different coloured sands, caused by decomposed basalt gullies of ferralitic soil, red colour caused by iron sesquioxydes

Skin of dermestid beetle larva, SEM
Dermestid beetle (Dermestes sp.) empty pupal case, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This beetle is studied by forensic entomologists as it feeds on extremely dry, desiccated dead bodies

Larder beetle larva head, SEM
Larder beetle (Dermestes lardarius) larva head, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This beetle is studied by forensic entomologists as it feeds on extremely dry, desiccated dead bodies

Ham beetle larva, SEM
Ham beetle (Necrobia sp.) larva, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Forensic entomologists study this beetle because it feeds on dead bodies

Blowfly pupa hatching, SEM
Blowfly pupa hatching. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a Calliphora vicina blowfly adult emerging from its pupa

Blowfly maggot feeding, SEM
Blowfly maggot feeding. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a Calliphora vicina blowfly maggot (larva) feeding on liver tissue

Blowfly maggot pupa, SEM
Blowfly pupa on carpet. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a Calliphora vicina blowfly pupa that will hatch an adult fly. A blowfly lays its eggs on dead bodies

Blowfly head, SEM
Head of a blowfly. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a Lucilia sp. blowfly head. A female blowfly lays her eggs on dead bodies. This behaviour is studied by forensic entomologists

Dead fly on a fly swat, SEM
Dead fly. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an unidentified fly (order Diptera) that has been killed by a fly swat. Insects can help in solving crimes, an area named forensic entomology

Necrobia beetle larva, SEM
Ham beetle (Necrobia sp.) larva, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Forensic entomologists study this beetle because it feeds on dead bodies

Red-shouldered ham beetle head, SEM
Red-shouldered ham beetle (Necrobia ruficollis) head, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Forensic entomologists study this beetle because it feeds on dead bodies

Leaf mould heap. Leaf mould is a type of compost formed predominately from decomposed leaves. The material beneath the top layer of grass cuttings and leaves has begun to decompose (bottom)

Composting vegetation. Compost is a mixture of decaying organic matter. It is used in gardens to improve soil structure and provide nutrients

Decomposition
Decompositon. Water vapour rising from decaying organic matter on an active (hot) compost heap. This heat is a by-product of the breakdown of the organic matter by microbes living in the compost heap

Interference pattern in a frozen pond
Interference patterns in a frozen pond containing thin films of oil. The oil has been released by decomposing leaves at the surface of the pond

Organic fertiliser. Porous bag of comfrey stems (Symphytum officinale) in a container of water. The plants are left in water till they decompose

Bubbles of methane from decomposing leaves under ice

Methane bubbles trapped in a frozen pool. These are produced by decomposing organic matter at the bottom of the pond

Chinese lantern flower skeleton, SEM
Chinese lantern flower skeleton. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the decaying calyx of a flower of the chinese lantern plant (Physalis sp.)

The Magpie
ROG-12822 The Magpie fungus Coprinus picaceus Bob Gibbons Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Stinkhorn fungus, young stage. New Forest
ROG-12843 Stinkhorn fungus, young stage New Forest. UK Phallus impudicus Bob Gibbons Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

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"Nature's Silent Recyclers: The Beauty of Decomposition" In the intricate tapestry of life, decomposition plays a vital role in the cycle of nature. Picture No. 11676103 captures this phenomenon perfectly, with a Natterjack Toad perched on fallen leaves amidst a vibrant display of chestnuts, rainworms, and a trio of mushrooms, and is here that the magic begins. Zooming in closer, we witness the fascinating sight of blowflies laying their eggs under microscopic scrutiny through SEM imaging. These tiny creatures are essential contributors to decomposition, breaking down organic matter into its elemental components. Moving away from insects and onto another mesmerizing spectacle, an interference pattern emerges as oil dances upon water's surface. This captivating image reminds us that even something as seemingly mundane as oil can create breathtaking patterns when interacting with its surroundings. Traveling across continents to Namibia's Giant's Playground, we encounter a quiver tree defiantly growing between weathered rocks. Its resilience mirrors nature's ability to adapt and thrive amidst adversity – even within decomposing boulders lies life waiting to emerge. Returning closer to home, low-angle view reveals Porcelain fungus gracefully adorning a dead Beech tree. This delicate yet resilient organism serves as both an indicator and participant in decomposition processes – transforming death into nourishment for new life. Delving deeper into the world beneath our feet, fungal mycelium spreads like intricate lacework across decomposing leaves. Unidentified but awe-inspiring species showcase nature's ingenuity at work – breaking down complex compounds while weaving connections within ecosystems. Venturing into ancient forests adorned with moss-covered fallen trees in Punia Forest Reserve unveils yet another facet of decomposition's beauty. Here lies evidence of renewal amid decay; fallen giants providing sustenance for future generations. Further north in County Armagh, Northern Ireland stands Clare Glen - home to bonnet mushroom fungi thriving amidst decaying vegetation.