Biofluorescence: Unseen world of the Celtic rainforest revealed by UV
Biofluorescence: Unseen world of the Celtic rainforest revealed by UV
Plants and animals use colours to communicate a message we humans cannot see.
An eerie glow has been emanating from Wales' forests and rockpools for the country's annual dark skies week.
David Atthowe, a nature guide from Norwich, was invited to shine his ultraviolet (UV) torches on some of the best nature spots in Pembrokeshire and Monmouthshire.
His photos of temperate rain forest in Wales reveal shapes, structures and colours that rival a coral reef.
"It is hidden from our human senses, waiting to be discovered," he said.
The 34-year-old is on a one-man mission to shine UV light on what he calls a "magic world" in which plants and animals fluoresce to communicate.
"Wales is so lucky to have so many beautiful sites [for biofluorescence] with its rockpools and temperate rainforest," he said.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
An eerie glow has been emanating from Wales' forests and rockpools for the country's annual dark skies week.
His photos of temperate rain forest in Wales reveal shapes, structures and colours that rival a coral reef.
The 34-year-old is on a one-man mission to shine UV light on what he calls a "magic world" in which plants and animals fluoresce to communicate.
Mr Atthowe visited woodlands in Wye Valley and in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park giving tours for Wales Dark Skies Week.
"The ancient woodlands are full of moss and lichen which light up under UV and lots of creatures too, like wood lice and centipedes all doing interesting things."
Ruth Waycott from the Wye Valley National Landscape helped organise one of the biofluorescence walks, at Whitestone, a Natural Resources Wales-owned forest near Chepstow in Monmouthshire.
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