Decomposition Collection

Natterjack Toad (Bufo calamita) perched on fallen leaves, next to chestnuts, rainworm and trio of mushrooms

Picture No. 11676103
Common Waxbill decomposition of flight movement using 8 images of the same bird in flight photographed in flight tunnel with electronic flashes (composite image) Date:

Blowfly laying eggs, SEM
Blowfly laying eggs. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a female Lucilia sp. blowfly laying her eggs (lower left). A blowfly lays its eggs on dead bodies

Interference pattern of oil on water
Interference pattern of colours caused by light reflected off a thin film of oil floating on water. The effect seen here is a result of decomposing organic matter leaving behind oily residues in a

Quiver tree and boulders individual tree growing between weathered rocks in Giant's Playground; Giant's
SAS-89 KOKERBOOM / Quiver / Aloe Tree and boulders - individual tree growing between weathered rocks in Giant's Playground Giant's Playground, Keetmanshoop, Namibia

Studies of the effects of decomposition
2626761 Studies of the effects of decomposition; (add.info.: Studies of the effects of decomposition on exhumed bodies, 1831.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Studies of the effects of decomposition
2626763 Studies of the effects of decomposition; (add.info.: Studies of the effects of decomposition on exhumed bodies, 1831.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Apparatus for the decomposition of water aka water splitting, c.1898 (engraving)
6116649 Apparatus for the decomposition of water aka water splitting, c.1898 (engraving); (add.info.: Apparatus for the decomposition of water, aka water splitting)

Studies of the effects of decomposition
2626762 Studies of the effects of decomposition; (add.info.: Studies of the effects of decomposition on exhumed bodies, 1831.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Low angle view of Porcelain fungus (Oudemansiella mucida) growing on a dead Beech tree (Fagus sylvatica). Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. November

Fungal mycelium from an unidentified species of fungus, growing across a decomposing leaf. The mycelium is the vegetative part of the fungus and is made up of a mass of thread-like hyphae

Moss covered fallen trees in old mixed conifer and broadleaf forest, Punia Forest Reserve, Lithuania, May

Bonnet mushroom fungus (Mycena sp) Clare Glen, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, UK, November

Cup fungi (Cookeina sp) growing on decaying log, Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo

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]

Boeing B707 F-BHSZ Chateau de Kerjean
Boeing B707-328B F-BHSZ Chateau de Kerjean (msn 18459, line no.335), of Air France. First flown on 12 March 1963, delivered to Air France on 30 March 1963

Toadstoosl on tree stump in forest, Vosges, France, November 2013

Chinese lanterns (Physalis alkekengi) skeletons, silhouette on white background

Chinese lanterns (Physalis alkekengi) skeletons, silhouette on white background

Chinese Lanterns (Physalis alkekengi), Hydrangea flowers, Poplar leaves (Populus) and Honesty skeletons (Lunaria annua), silhouettes on white background

Decaying tree trunk, Moricsala Strict Nature Reserve, Moricsala Island, Lake Usma, Latvia, June 2009

Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) fallen ancient tree, White Mountains, California, USA, March

Cup fungus (Cookeina sp) growing on decaying wood on the rainforest floor, Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Three immature Slime mould (Lamproderma arcyrionema) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, beginning to mature. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. August. Focus Stacked

Two Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, forming on decaying leaf, with peridium split open. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. February. Focus Stacked

Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia growing along edge of decaying leaf. Buckinghamshire, England, UK, January. Focus Stacked image

Decomposing carcass of a juvenile Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) caught / entangled in discarded ghost nets, Phuket, Thailand, Andaman Sea

DDE-90034363
Norway, Spitsbergen, Sallyhammna. Vertebrae of a dead fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) lies on a snow-covered beach one year after its death, glacier in distance. Date: 14/04/2010

DDE-90034362
Norway, Spitsbergen, Sallyhammna. Vertebrae of a dead fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) lies on a beach one year after its death, glacier in distance. Date: 14/04/2010

DDE-90034357
Norway, Spitsbergen, Sallyhammna. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) adult swims next to a dead fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) vertebrae. Date: 14/04/2010

DDE-90034355
Norway, Spitsbergen, Sallyhammna. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) adult next to a dead fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) vertebrae on a rocky beach. Date: 14/04/2010

DDE-90034356
Norway, Spitsbergen, Sallyhammna. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) adult next to a dead fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) vertebrae on a rocky beach. Date: 14/04/2010

DDE-90034354
Norway, Spitsbergen, Sallyhammna. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) adult next to a dead fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) vertebrae on a rocky beach. Date: 14/04/2010

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

Decomposition of water by electricity (engraving)
3655133 Decomposition of water by electricity (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Decomposition of water by electricity)

Decomposition of Water (engraving)
1617399 Decomposition of Water (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Decomposition of Water. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 24 October 1846)

The Heliostat (engraving)
2781329 The Heliostat (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Heliostat, placed on a shelf outside the window)

Scarlet elf cup fungus (Sarcoscypha coccinea) growing on dead branches floating in an area of flooded woodland. Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. February

Velvet Shank / Winter Fungus (Flammulina velutipes), growing on moss-covered dead tree. Park District National Park, UK. December. Focus stacked image

The Triumph of Death (chromolitho)
668491 The Triumph of Death (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Triumph of Death)

Illustration from La Cle de la Grande Science sur l
CHT207480 Illustration from La Cle de la Grande Science sur l Ouvrage Philosophique Inconnu, or Renovation Eternelle des Choses au Sein de la Putrefaction (ink & w/c on paper) by French School

Electricity (engraving)
5207057 Electricity (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Electricity. Illustration for Farrows Military Encyclopedia by Edwards Farrow)

Fungi (Neodasyscyopha cerina) tiny cup fungi growing on rotting beech log, Buckinghamshire, England, UK, January Focus Stacked

Close up of decaying leaf from rainforest floor, showing lichens and moulds. Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo

Waiting for Decomposition, 1872. Creator: Frederick William Quartley
Waiting for Decomposition, 1872. Vultures perch on a tree covered in Spanish moss above the rotting corpse of an alligator, Florida, south eastern USA

Rotting wooden shed covered in moss, Washington State, USA

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

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

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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.