Images Dated 24th July 2000

Spruce needle stomata

Spruce needle stomata. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of two stomata (pores) on the surface of a needle of a sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). The stomata are in sunken pits. Each stoma can be opened and closed by the two guard cells (light green) on either side of it. This allows the exchange of gases between the plant and the air to be controlled. The sunken stomata and the layer of wax (pale green) covering the surface of the needle minimise water loss from the tree. This conifer is native to North America, being most common in the north-west. Magnification: x670 at 6x7cm size

© POWER AND SYRED/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria

E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 bacteria, cause of foodborne illness. This E.coli strain was responsible for the outbreak of food poisoning in Scotland in 1996, when over a dozen people died and hundreds were taken ill. It causes bloody diarrhoea and occasionally kidney failure, particularly in the elderly and very young. The strain originates from the intestines of some cattle and spreads to contaminate beef and milk. Pasteurisation of milk and thorough cooking of all meat helps to prevent its transmission. Magnification: x26, 500 at 6x7cm size

© DR KARI LOUNATMAA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Insect-egg Mass Slime Mold (Leocarpus fragilis), Spruce Knob, W VA, West Virginia

© Dennis, David M. / Animals Animals/Earth Scenes

Aa Photographer, America, Biology, Cell, Close Up, Color, Colorful, Colour, Colourful, David Dennis, David M Dennis, Effect, Endosporeae, Fungi, Fungus, Group, Leocarpus, Leocarpus Fragilis, Location, Mold, Myxomycetes, Myxomycota, North America, Number, Out Side, Outdoor, Outdoors, Physaraceae, Physarales, Science, Slime Mold, Sporangia, Sporangium, Spore Case, Spruce Knob, Thp, United States, United States Of America, Us A, West Virginia, Wv, Yellow