Vanishing Pond | Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Sebastian Frölich’s Image

Sebastian Frölich (Germany) finds a springtail among a galaxy of neon green gas bubbles in Austrian moorlands.

Sebastian visited this fragile wetland ecosystem to highlight its importance as a vast store of carbon dioxide and as a habitat for diverse wildlife.

A tiny springtail ran across escaping gas bubbles rising through the algae, giving this image a sense of scale.

Austria has lost 90% of its peat bogs. Only 10% of those that remain are in good condition.

Platzertal is one of the last intact high moorlands in the Austrian Alps. It’s an area renowned for its carbon-storing peat bogs.