The Fungal Tornado: Unveiling the Story Behind a PhotographIn the recent annual Big Picture Photography Contest, a captivating image titled “The Fungal Tornado” made its way to the finals, although it didn’t clinch the winning spot. However, its unique allure captured our attention, and here’s why.
The photo was crafted by biologist Lu Yang amidst the majestic mountains of Westland National Park, located on New Zealand’s South Island. It was described by a jury member as a “mesmerizing and mortally terrifying frame”. The image encapsulates the fleeting moment of spore dispersion by the fungus Armillaria novae-zelandiae, a distant relative of the mushrooms known as honey fungus found in other parts of the world.
This endemic species to New Zealand has, over recent decades, found its way to other continents where it morphed into a menacing invasion. It wreaks havoc on local vegetation by rotting their roots, usually leading to a fatal end for the affected flora. Through this photograph, Lu Yang not only captured a beautiful yet ephemeral natural phenomenon but also spotlighted an ecological challenge that extends beyond the borders of New Zealand.
@science
