Reproductive Collection (page 14)

Oak (Quercus sp. ) catkins
Oak (Quercus sp.) catkins. The catkins are the flowers of the plant. Photographed in Dorset, UK, in April

Kittens suckling, Romania
Kittens suckling with mother in Romania

Dandelion pollen grains, SEM
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) pollen grains, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Pollen grains are reproductive structures produced by the male parts of flowering plants

Christmas cactus pollen, SEM
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera sp.) pollen grain, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). A pollen grain contains a male gamete (reproductive cell)

Black-browed albatrosses courting
Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) breeding pair courting. This large seabird mates for life. The courtship ritual involves crossing bills, preening, and moving their heads to and fro

Antarctic fur seal blonde pup
Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) pup. This is one of the less common blonde-coated animals. A blonde or white seal lacks pigment in the outer guard hairs of its fur coat

Mosquito grass pollen, SEM
Mosquito grass (Bouteloua gracilis) pollen grain, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). A pollen grain contains a male gamete (reproductive cell)

Comfrey pollen, SEM
Comfrey (Symphytum sp.) pollen grains, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). A pollen grain contains a male gamete (reproductive cell)

Imperial shag with nesting material
Imperial shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps) arriving at a breeding colony with plant material in its beak for building a nest. Such breeding colonies may contain hundreds or even thousands of other birds

Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) berries

Flowering quince pollen, SEM
Flowering quince (Chaenomeles japonica) pollen grain, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). A pollen grain contains a male gamete (reproductive cell)

King penguin breeding colony
King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding colony at St Andrews Bay, South Georgia. This is the largest king penguin breeding colony on South Georgia

Hawksbeard pollen, SEM
Hawksbeard (Crepis sp.) pollen grains, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). A pollen grain contains a male gamete (reproductive cell)

Cabbage white butterfly eggs, SEM
Cabbage white butterfly eggs. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of eggs of the cabbage white butterfly (Pieris brassicae)

Paeonia suffruticosa seed pods

Peltiphyllum pollen, SEM
Peltiphyllum pollen grain, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). A pollen grain contains a male gamete (reproductive cell) that is intended to fertilise an egg or ovule (female gamete)

Southern elephant seal pup
Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) pup, with an abundance of skin (folded) in which to grow into. Southern elephant seals live in the open waters of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica

Periwinkle pollen, SEM
Periwinkle (Vinca sp.) pollen grain, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). A pollen grain contains a male gamete (reproductive cell)

Southern elephant seals sparring
Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) male juveniles sparring at the fringes of a breeding group. These juveniles are developing the skills they need to compete with the dominant bulls

Macaroni penguin breeding display
Macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) displaying in a breeding colony. These penguins are found around the edges of Antarctica and on sub-Antarctic islands

Black-browed albatross nesting
Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) on its nest. This large seabird constructs its nest out of mud and stones, packing the material with its large bill

Light-mantled sooty albatross nesting
Light-mantled sooty albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata) on its nest. The head of another albatross is at lower right, obscured by the grass. Breeding pairs of this seabird mate for life

Silver birch pollen, SEM
Silver birch (Betula pendulata) pollen grain, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). A pollen grain contains a male gamete (reproductive cell)

Birds nesting on a skerry
skerry with full of nest of Phalacrocorax carbo Stockholm archipelago

Pollen, light micrograph
Light micrograph (dark field illumination) of a collection of unidentified mixed pollen showing a variety of shapes and sizes of the grain structure. Magnification: x200

Ovarian follicle, SEM
Ovarian follicle. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a fracture through a secondary follicle in the ovary. The oocyte (developing egg), with its central nucleus, is purple

Stinking iris (Iris foetidissima) berries. This plant is also known as the roast beef plant. Photographed in Italy

Lily (Lilium Scheherazade )
Family: Liliaceae Genus: lilium Cultivar/hybrid Scheherazade Oriental trumpet lily, Dorset, UK August 2010

Magpie aquilegia (Aquilegia sp. )
Magpie aquilegia in flower. Dorset, UK June 2010

Pelargonium Black Prince Dorset, UK July 2010

Nectaroscordum scopulorum
Nectaruscordum scopulorum coming into bloom. Dorset, UK July 2010

Penguins mating, artwork. The penguins reproductive organs are shown here, with the male on top and the female on the bottom

Seychelles sunbird nest. This nest, built by the Seychelles sunbird (Cinnyris dussumieri), is usually made from grass and moss, and bound with spiders webs. Numerous feathers are also seen here

Bladderwort in a lake. The bladderworts (Utricularia) are carnivorous plants. The underwater bladders trap small aquatic animals, such as water fleas or even small fish fry and tadpoles

Oviraptors dinosaurs nesting
Oviraptor dinosaurs nesting. Artwork of two Oviraptor dinosaurs camouflaged on their nest. The fossils of this dinosaur were found in Mongolia, dating to around 75 million years ago

Milk-producing cell, artwork
Milk-producing cell. Artwork of the anatomical structure of a lacteal (milk-producing) cell. Normal cell organelles include the nucleus (black, centre), the golgi apparatus (white)

Rare smalleye stingra
Sperm cell. Artwork of a spermatozoon, a human male sex cell. At left is the head, containing the genetic material in the nucleus

Peony pollen grains, SEM
Peony (Paeonia sp.) pollen grains, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Pollen grains are reproductive structures produced by the male parts of flowering plants

Milk-producing cell, diagram
Milk-producing cell. Diagram of the anatomical structure of a lacteal (milk-producing) cell. Normal cell organelles include the nucleus (black, centre), the golgi apparatus (white)

Dandelion seed, SEM
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) seed, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM)

Pentaceratops dinosaurs mating. Artwork of male (right) and female (left) Pentaceratops dinosaurs mating. The name of this herbivorous dinosaur refers to the five horns on its head

Human fertilisation, artwork
Human fertilization. Artwork of a single sperm cell (spermatozoon) attempting to fertilise a human egg cell (ovum, round, lower right). The sperm cell consists of a head section and a tail section

Malaria infection, artwork
Malaria infection. Computer artwork of a macrophage white blood cell (right) extending pseudopodia towards a red blood cell (left) infected with the Plasmodium fulciparum malaria parasite

Flower anatomy, SEM
Flower anatomy. Coloured freeze-fracture scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a flower with the top removed, showing a central ovary (pale pink, centre) containing ovules (green)

Greater striped swallow (Hirundo cucullata) collecting mud pellets from a small water pool for building its nest. Photographed in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa

Fern spore cases, SEM
Fern spore cases. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a sorus on the underside of a fern leaf. A sorus is a group of sporangia (round lumps)

Buckley bonehead frogs mating
Buckley bonehead (Osteocephalus buckleyi) frogs mating. This position is known as amplexus. The male frog (top) grasps the female (bottom) with his front legs while she lays her eggs

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"Exploring the Intricate World of Reproduction: From Dinosaurs to Flowers and Beyond" In the ancient world, even mighty Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaurs had their own unique ways of reproducing. Discovering fossilized evidence of their mating rituals offers a fascinating glimpse into the reproductive strategies employed by these prehistoric giants. Zooming in closer to modern times, microscopic wonders like lavender pollen grains under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveal intricate structures that play a crucial role in plant reproduction. Similarly, SEM images of geranium anthers and dahlia flower pollen showcase nature's attention to detail when it comes to ensuring successful pollination. Nature never ceases to amaze with its diverse range mechanisms. Take the cloudberry, for example - this Arctic fruit relies on cross-pollination facilitated by insects or wind for its continued existence. Moving beyond plants, we find ourselves exploring the realm of humans. The miracle of life unfolds within a pregnant woman's body as she nurtures new beginnings and prepares for motherhood. But reproduction is not limited to just larger organisms; even tiny creatures like honeybees have their own unique methods. SEM images capturing honeybee legs provide insight into how these industrious insects transport precious pollen from one flower to another, ensuring fertilization occurs. Venturing further into nature's hidden corners reveals captivating details about reproduction in unexpected places. Mushroom gills under SEM expose delicate structures designed for spore dispersal – a vital step in mushroom reproduction. Delving deeper still, tea flower stamens captured through SEM offer an up-close look at yet another facet of botanical fertility – showcasing intricate arrangements meant to attract pollinators and ensure successful seed production. Flowers continue enchanting us with their beauty as well as their reproductive prowess. Delphinium flowers boast vibrant colors while employing various strategies such as self-pollination or attracting specific pollinators like bees or butterflies.