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    HomeGalleries- StoriesFeature Stories

    Studies in Slime75

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    With their bizarre life cycles and shapeshifting abilities, there aren’t many lifeforms as weird as slime moulds. For one thing, they’re not moulds. A lot of the time, they’re not even slimy. They can exist as single-celled loners or as ‘supercells’ made up of millions of individuals. Sometimes they look like toadstools, and sometimes they behave like slugs. But they’re neither. Hence the weirdness.

    “The fact that you can find the same species pretty much anywhere on the planet is fascinating to me,” says Andy Sands, a UK-based photographer who spent months searching for slime moulds under dead logs in the woods around his Hertfordshire home. Andy’s close-up studies reveal in surprising detail the weird world that exists underneath our feet.

    To find out more – and to discover how these ancient, primitive organisms are opening up new frontiers of research check out our full story PDF, complete with text, here.

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    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum album), in reproductive phase. Close-up of massed fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647366
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum album), in reproductive phase. Close-up of massed fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Arcyria denudata), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647408
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Arcyria denudata), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia utricularis), in streaming / plasmodial phase, seeking nutrients on rotting wood. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647346
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia utricularis), in streaming / plasmodial phase, seeking nutrients on rotting wood. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia utricularis), in streaming / plasmodial phase, seeking nutrients on rotting wood. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647348
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia utricularis), in streaming / plasmodial phase, seeking nutrients on rotting wood. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum leucophaeum), in reproductive phase. Close-up of single fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647371
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum leucophaeum), in reproductive phase. Close-up of single fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia utricularis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of massed fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647345
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia utricularis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of massed fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Tubifera ferruginosa), in reproductive phase. Close-up of massed fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647386
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Tubifera ferruginosa), in reproductive phase. Close-up of massed fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia utricularis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of maturing fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647343
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia utricularis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of maturing fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647401
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores.
    01647415
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores.
    Andy Sands / Wolf's milk slime mould (Lycogala epidendrum), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (aethalia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647407
    Andy Sands / Wolf's milk slime mould (Lycogala epidendrum), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (aethalia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mold (Fuligo septica) plasmodia slime mold on dead wood, Buckinghamshire, England, UK, November . Focus stacked image
    01539047
    Andy Sands / Slime mold (Fuligo septica) plasmodia slime mold on dead wood, Buckinghamshire, England, UK, November . Focus stacked image
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of two fused fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647400
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of two fused fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Arcyria ferrugine), in reproductive phase. Close-up of massed fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647390
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Arcyria ferrugine), in reproductive phase. Close-up of massed fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum leucophaeum), in reproductive phase, growing on moss. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647369
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum leucophaeum), in reproductive phase, growing on moss. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia affinis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647392
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia affinis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum album), entering reproductive phase. The young fruiting bodies (sporangia) are begnning to develop, while the plasmodial (feeding) phase is still visible. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647404
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum album), entering reproductive phase. The young fruiting bodies (sporangia) are begnning to develop, while the plasmodial (feeding) phase is still visible. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa), in reproductive phase. Close-up of massed fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647409
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa), in reproductive phase. Close-up of massed fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum leucophaeum), in reproductive phase, growing on edge of beech leaf. Close up of two fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647370
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum leucophaeum), in reproductive phase, growing on edge of beech leaf. Close up of two fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Craterium minutum), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of single fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647354
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Craterium minutum), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of single fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Enteridium lycoperdon), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting body (aethalia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647413
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Enteridium lycoperdon), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting body (aethalia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647363
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Arcyria denudata), in reproductive phase. Close-up of young fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK. Sequence 1 of 3.
    01647387
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Arcyria denudata), in reproductive phase. Close-up of young fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK. Sequence 1 of 3.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Arcyria denudata), in reproductive phase. Close-up of mature fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK. Sequence 2 of 3.
    01647388
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Arcyria denudata), in reproductive phase. Close-up of mature fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK. Sequence 2 of 3.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Arcyria denudata), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK. Sequence 3 of 3.
    01647389
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Arcyria denudata), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK. Sequence 3 of 3.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Comatricha nigra), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647412
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Comatricha nigra), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Comatricha fragilis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647349
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Comatricha fragilis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647398
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia utricularis), in streaming / plasmodial phase, seeking nutrients on rotting wood. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647347
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia utricularis), in streaming / plasmodial phase, seeking nutrients on rotting wood. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Trichia botrytis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647381
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Trichia botrytis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Didymium squamulosum), in reproductive phase, with ruler for scale, showing size of less than 1mm.
    01647360
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Didymium squamulosum), in reproductive phase, with ruler for scale, showing size of less than 1mm.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum leucophaeum), in reproductive phase, with coin for scale. The fruiting bodies (sporangia) are developing on a leaf, ready to release their spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647372
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum leucophaeum), in reproductive phase, with coin for scale. The fruiting bodies (sporangia) are developing on a leaf, ready to release their spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum leucophaeum), in mature reproductive phase, growing on grass. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647373
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum leucophaeum), in mature reproductive phase, growing on grass. Close-up of spore-bearing fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum robustum), in reproductive phase. Close-up of fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647378
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum robustum), in reproductive phase. Close-up of fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum robustum), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupting fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647379
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum robustum), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupting fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum robustum), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647380
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum robustum), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum robustum), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647377
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum robustum), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Arcyria ferruginea), in reproductive phase. Mass of fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647391
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Arcyria ferruginea), in reproductive phase. Mass of fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores.
    01647416
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupting fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647399
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Metatrichia floriformis), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupting fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mold (Fuligo septica) on dead silver birch log, Buckinghamshire, England, UK, November. Focus stacked image.
    01539096
    Andy Sands / Slime mold (Fuligo septica) on dead silver birch log, Buckinghamshire, England, UK, November. Focus stacked image.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia utricularis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of developing fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647344
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Badhamia utricularis), in reproductive phase. Close-up of developing fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Hemitrichia calyculata), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores.
    01647414
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Hemitrichia calyculata), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Comatricha nigra), in reproductive phase. Close-up of single fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647411
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Comatricha nigra), in reproductive phase. Close-up of single fruiting body (sporangium), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa), in reproductive phase. Close-up of massed fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647410
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa), in reproductive phase. Close-up of massed fruiting bodies (sporangia), each bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Trichia decipiens), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647406
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Trichia decipiens), in mature reproductive phase. Close-up of erupted fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum album), in reproductive phase. Close-up of developing fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Springtail visible in frame. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647405
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum album), in reproductive phase. Close-up of developing fruiting bodies (sporangia), bearing thousands of spores. Springtail visible in frame. Buckinghamshire, UK.
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum album), in reproductive phase, showing many young fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
    01647403
    Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum album), in reproductive phase, showing many young fruiting bodies (sporangia). Buckinghamshire, UK.
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