The BMC Ecology Image Competition celebrates the best photos and images on the theme of ecology, from animals in their natural habitats to the ecosystems they call home.
The competition is open to any member of an academic institution, and is judged by BMC Ecology's team of section editors with guest judge Professor Zhigang Jiang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, providing their expertise in biology and ecology. The winners are not just great photos, but they also feature an important ecological issue, such as biodiversity or the importance of conservation.
Here are the winners, runners up, and highly commended images from this year's competition. You can find out more about the competition atbmcecol.biomedcentral.com.
Overall winner
The enigmatic clearwing butterfly Hypomenitis enigma (Nymphalidae: Ithomiini):Marianne Elias (France)
![The enigmatic clearwing butterfly Hypomenitis enigma (Nymphalidae: Ithomiini) © Marianne Elias (Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, CNRS, MNHN, Sorbonne Université, France) The enigmatic clearwing butterfly Hypomenitis enigma (Nymphalidae: Ithomiini) © Marianne Elias (Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, CNRS, MNHN, Sorbonne Université, France)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/fig1_Overall-winning-image_Credit_Marianne-Elias-_Institut-de-Syste%25CC%2581matique_Evolution_Biodiversite%25CC%2581_CNRS_MNHN_Sorbonne-Universite%25CC%2581_France-2d48d5b.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
First runner up
My treasure!:Pilar Oliva Vidal (Spain)
![My treasure! © Pilar Oliva Vidal (University of Lleida – ETSEA, Spain). © Pilar Oliva Vidal (University of Lleida – ETSEA, Spain).](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/fig2_First-Runner-Up_Credit_Pilar-Oliva-Vidal_University-of-Lleida_ETSEA_Spain-7881460.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Second runner up
Hungry dugongs have no table manners: Matteo Santon (Germany)
![Hungry dugongs have no table manners © Matteo Santon (University of Tuebingen, Germany) © Matteo Santon (University of Tuebingen, Germany)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/fig3_Second-runner-up_Matteo-Santon_University-of-Tuebingen_Germany-4d2b12b.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Category winner: Behavioural and Physiological Ecology
Home in mother’s arms:Arnaud Badiane (France)
![Home in mother's arms © Arnaud Badiane (iEES-Paris, Sorbonne University, Paris, France) © Arnaud Badiane (iEES-Paris, Sorbonne University, Paris, France)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/fig4_Category-winner_Behavioral-and-Physiological-Ecology_Credit_Arnaud-Badiane_iEES-Paris_Sorbonne-University_Paris_France-b1b9947.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Category winner:Conservation Ecology and Biodiversity
Little treasures of the steppes:Pilar Oliva Vidal (Spain)
![Little treasures of the steppes © Pilar Oliva Vidal (University of Lleida – ETSEA, Spain) © Pilar Oliva Vidal (University of Lleida – ETSEA, Spain)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/fig5_Catergory-winner_Conservation-Ecology-and-Biodiversity-Research_Credit_Pilar-Oliva-Vidal_University-of-Lleida_ETSEA_Spain-f799ecd.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Category winner:Community, Population and Macroecology
Meadow Brown & solitary bee:William Mills
![Meadow Brown & solitary bee © William Mills (University of Brighton, UK) © William Mills (University of Brighton, UK)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/fig6_Categpory-winner_Community_Population-and-Macroecology_Credit_William-Mills_University-of-Brighton_UK-4ef39d0.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Category winner: Landscape Ecology and Ecosystems
Kilauea Volcano:Sabrina Koehler (Germany)
![Kilauea Volcano © Sabrina Koehler (Kiel University, Germany) © Sabrina Koehler (Kiel University, Germany)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/fig7_Category-winner_Landscape-Ecology-and-Ecosystems_Credit_Sabrina-Koehler_Kiel-University_Germany-55eaa25.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Category winner: Editor's pick
Small bridges:Darko Davor Cotoras Viedma (USA)
![Small bridges © © Darko Davor Cotoras Viedma (California Academy of Sciences, USA) © Darko Davor Cotoras Viedma (California Academy of Sciences, USA)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/fig8_Editor%25E2%2580%2599s-pick_Credit_Darko-Davor-Cotoras-Viedma_California-Academy-of-Sciences_USA-285f00a.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Highly commended
![© Arnaud Badiane (iEES-Paris, Sorbonne University, Paris, France) © Arnaud Badiane (iEES-Paris, Sorbonne University, Paris, France)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/1addtionalfile1_Highly-Commended_Credit_Arnaud-Badiane_iEES-Paris_Sorbonne-University_Paris_France-22c0ad3.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Highly commended
![David Costantini (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France) David Costantini (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/2additionalfile2_Highly-Commended_Credit_David-Costantini_Muse%25CC%2581um-National-dHistoire-Naturelle_Paris_France-d2c2d56.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Highly commended
![© Joseph Dubrovsky (Departamento de Biologia Molecular de Plantas , Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) © Joseph Dubrovsky (Departamento de Biologia Molecular de Plantas , Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/3additionalfile3_Highly-Commended_Credit_Joseph-Dubrovsky_Departamento-de-Biologia-Molecular-de-Plantas_Instituto-de-Biotecnologi%25CC%2581a_Universidad-Nacional-Auto%25CC%2581noma-de-Me%25CC%2581xico-4988c89.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Highly commended
![© Jorge Enrique García Melo (Grupo de Investigación en Zoología, Universidad del Tolima) © Jorge Enrique García Melo (Grupo de Investigación en Zoología, Universidad del Tolima)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/4additionalfile4_Highly-Commended_Credit_Jorge-Enrique-Garci%25CC%2581a-Melo_Grupo-de-Investigacio%25CC%2581n-en-Zoologi%25CC%2581a_Universidad-del-Tolima-436adb7.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Highly commended
![© Nayden Chakarov (Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Germany) © Nayden Chakarov (Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Germany)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/5additionalfile5_Highly-Commended_Credit_Nayden-Chakarov_Department-of-Animal-Behaviour_Bielefeld-University_Germany-afd7c05.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Highly commended
![© Marta Kolanowska (University of Lodz, Poland) © Marta Kolanowska (University of Lodz, Poland)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/03/6additionalfile6_Highly-Commended_Credit_Marta-Kolanowska_University-of-Lodz_Poland-5ec3825.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
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