POY 82 Science and Natural History
A single photograph that increases the understanding and appreciation of science or the natural world. Studio scenes that are arranged by the photographer are not eligible.
Finalist: Bronson Blue
A snapping turtle skirts the edge of Bronson Blue Spring in Bronson, Florida, while Florida Gar gather in the background on July 26, 2024. Florida's springs are unique aquatic ecosystems that are dependent on submerged vegetation. A few short decades ago, the background of this image would have been filled with waving fields of aquatic grasses - today, it's barren. Once common, aquatic grasses have disappeared from most of Florida's springs. Causes of vegetation loss include trampling due to over recreation and nutrient pollution from sewage and fertilizers that have fueled growth of blankets of algae that choked out vegetation.
