Heterokontophyta Collection

Weedy seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) male carries eggs through a kelp forest (Macrocystis pyrifera) in Tasmania, Australia. Tasmania is the only part of Australia with giant kelp forests

Dictyota dichotoma
Cyanotype photograph by Anna Atkins, one of the first natural history photographers. From British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, 1853. Date: 1853

Diatom, SEM
Diatom. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a Stephanopyxis sp. diatom. Diatoms are single-celled photosynthetic algae, of which there are about 100, 000 species

Diatom, SEM
Diatom. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a Triceratium morlandii diatom. Diatoms are single-celled photosynthetic algae, of which there are about 100, 000 species

Dense growth of Bootlace seaweed (Chorda filum) in shallow water, Kimmeridge, Dorset, England, UK, English Channel. July. Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition 2022 (WPY)

Fucus bulbosus, kelp
Plate 161 from Fuci, or coloured figures and descriptions of the Plants referred by botanists to the genus Fucus (1808-1819), Volume III, by Mary Dawson Turner

Fucus radiatus, kelp

Kelp forest (Laminaria digitata) with small fish, Shetland, Scotland, UK, July

Macrocystis pyrifera, giant kelp
Giant kelp, also known as kelp forest, seaweed and sea grass. Specimen annotated as Macrocystis pirifera from South Africa, held at the Natural History Museum, London

Air filled bladders of Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). Santa Barbara Island, Channel Islands. Los Angeles, California, United States of America. North East Pacific Ocean

Focus stacked, inverted image of Diatoms on a microscope slide. Diatoms are single-celled algae which produce approximately 25% of the oxygen we breathe as well as being responsible for approximately

Sugar kelp (Sacchinaria latissima) off Nova Scotia, Canada. September

Kelp forest (Laminaria hyperborea) in the clear seas of Scotland, UK, September

Sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) and Sea anemones (Actiniaria) on rock near iceberg. Tasiilaq, East Greenland. April

Sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) near iceberg, view upwards to gap in sea ice. Tasiilaq, East Greenland. April

Blacksmiths (Chromis punctipinnis) school swam through a giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest, Santa Barbara Island, Channel Islands. Los Angeles, California, USA, North East Pacific Ocean

Group of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in a kelp forest (Macrocystis pyrifera), California, USA. Pacific ocean

Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) swimming over kelp forest, Shetland, Scotland, UK, August

Group of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) swimming in kelp forest (Macrocystis pyrifera), California, USA. Pacific ocean

Hooded nudibranchs (Melibe leonina) filter feeding beneath bull kelp. Hussar Point, Browning Pass, Port Hardy, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Black rockfish (Sebastes melanops) in bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), Browning Pass, Port Hardy, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Detail of the gas bladders and fronds of Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) plant. Santa Barbara Island, the Channel Islands, California, United States of America. East Pacific Ocean

Sargassum fish (Histrio histrio) near the surface on floating Sargassum seaweed, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) reaching up toward the sea surface, off Santa Barbara Island, California, USA, Pacific Ocean

Air bladders lifting strands of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) towards the surface, off Santa Barbara Island, California, USA

Kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus) in Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest, Santa Barbara, California, USA

RF - Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) relaxing in a bed of kelp (Laminaria digitata), with two seals in the background. Farne Islands, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom. British Isles. North Sea

Orange and white soft corals, Dead mans fingers (Alcyonium digitatum) thriving beneath kelp (Laminaria hyperborea). St Abbs, Eyemouth, Berwickshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. North Sea

Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) male hovers over sea oak (Halidrys siliquosa). Babbacombe, Torquay, Devon, England, United Kingdom. English Channel. North East Atlantic Ocean

Black rockfish (Sebastes melanops) school shelter in a bull kelp forest (Nereocystis luetkeana). Race Rocks, Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Bull kelp canopy (Nereocystis luetkeana) floating on the surface providing protective habitat for juvenile Rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) Browning Pass, Queen Charlotte Strait, British Columbia, Canada

Hooded nudibranchs (Melibe leonina) with oral hood for catching planktonic prey. In the Pacific Northwest they are often found clinging to bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana)

Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) in forest of giant kelp, (Macrocystis pyrifera) off Santa Barbara Island, California, USA

Portrait of a male short snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus) in sea oak seaweed (Halidrys siliquosa). Devon, England, United Kingdom. British Isles. English Channel. North East Atlantic Ocean

Seaweeds including Thongweed / Sea thong (Himanthalia elongata), Tangleweed kelp (Laminaria digitata), Toothed wrack (Fucus serratus) and Dulse (Palmaria palmata)

Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) young male swimming above Kelp / Oarweed (Laminaria hyperborea) Farne Islands, Northumberland, UK, North Sea, August

Common lobster (Homarus gammarus) looks out from its hole amongst Dead mans fingers (Alcyonium digitatum) beneath a forest of Oarweed kelp (Laminaria hyperborea)

Kelp forest (Laminaria hyperborea), Atlantic Ocean, North West Norway, March

Brown algae (Desmarestia anceps) from King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Preserved specimen

Californian Sealion (Zalophus californianus) in kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest, San Benito del Este Island, Baja California Peninsula Pacific Islands Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico

Red Irish lord (Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus) hides on the sebed, with Quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger) and copper rockfish (Sebastes caurinus) behind in the bull kelp forest

School of Blacksmith fish (Chromis punctipinnis) swim through a giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest. Santa Barbara Island, Channel Islands. Los Angeles, California, United States of America

Garibaldi fish (Hypsypops rubicundus) and Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest, San Benitos Islands, Baja California Pacific Islands Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, May

Californian sea lion (Zalophus californianus) in Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest, San Benitos Islands, Baja California Pacific Islands Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, May

Eastern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome filholi) mid-fall after jumping off rocky ledge to get to sea, surrounded by Bull kelp (Durvillaea antarctica), Auckland Island, Auckland Island

Norway's laminaria (Ascophyllum nodosum) growing up towards the surface in clear, shallow sea, Aberffraw, Anglesey, Wales, Irish Sea, UK. July

Pollack (Pollachius pollachius) juveniles, swimming amongst Red pom-pom seaweeds (Ceramium sp)
Pollack (Pollachius pollachius) juveniles, swimming amongst Red pom-pom seaweeds (Ceramium sp.) and Spaghetti seaweed (Himanthalia elongata), Island of Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK

Blue lion's mane jellyfish (Cyanea lamarckii) drifting through a seaweed forest with Red pom-pom seaweed (Ceramium sp.) and Spaghetti seaweed (Himanthalia elongata), Island of Coll

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"Heterokontophyta: Exploring the Diverse World of Seaweed and Diatoms" In the depths of the English Channel, a mesmerizing sight unfolds as Bootlace seaweed (Chorda filum) forms a dense growth in shallow waters. This captivating image captured during the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition 2022 showcases nature's beauty in its purest form. Highly commended in the Plants and Fungi category, it highlights the remarkable diversity found within Heterokontophyta. Venturing into kelp forests, we encounter another extraordinary scene - a male Weedy seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) gracefully carrying eggs through this underwater wonderland. These enchanting creatures find solace amidst towering kelps such as Dictyota dichotoma, Fucus bulbosus, and Fucus radiatus. Zooming closer under a scanning electron microscope reveals intricate details of diatoms that inhabit these marine habitats. Their delicate structures showcase their importance as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems. With their unique shapes and patterns, they add an artistic touch to our understanding of Heterokontophyta. Moving north to Scotland's Shetland Islands, we stumble upon a majestic kelp forest dominated by Laminaria digitata. Amongst its swaying fronds are small fish seeking refuge and sustenance within this thriving ecosystem. Traveling across continents to California's Channel Islands brings us face-to-face with Macrocystis pyrifera - giant kelp reaching for sunlight from beneath ocean depths. Here, even California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) find respite among these towering canopies while basking in tranquility above North East Pacific Ocean waves. Once again peering through an electron microscope unravels more secrets hidden within diatoms' microscopic world – their intricate designs hint at unseen wonders waiting to be explored.