Researcher's gliding treefrog photo wins prestigious award

A pair of gliding treefrogs take the winning student photo award in the 2023 Capturing Ecology Photography Competition — well, the photographer, FIU postdoctoral researcher Brandon A. Güell did.

Capturing Ecology is an annual photography competition focused on showcasing the beauty of ecology. It is run by the British Ecological Society — the oldest ecological society in the world and the largest scientific society for ecologists in Europe. Güell’s photo titled “Cusp of Chaos” was selected as the Student Winner in the category of Individuals and Populations (Animals) for this year.

“I am thrilled to have my study species and Ph.D. research highlighted through my photography at such a large scale, and I am proud to represent Costa Rica, both as a photographer and researcher,” Güell said. “I also love having the opportunity to share my work so others can appreciate the chaos and beauty of this rare breeding event.”

A first-generation Costa Rican-American, Güell grew up listening to the adventures of his uncle who worked as a park ranger in Costa Rica for many years. His uncle’s stories fueled Güell’s drive to pursue his dream of working among wildlife.

The award-winning photo was taken during a massive breeding aggregation on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. It shows a pair of gliding treefrogs (Agalychnis spurrelli) searching for a leaf on which to lay their eggs. Güell snapped the photo while conducting research on the gliding treefrog’s explosive breeding and the effect environmental conditions have on the frog’s breeding process.

Güell first used photography as a tool for research in 2015 through an NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates. Güell used macro videography to study the hatching behavior of red-eyed treefrog embryos in response to flooding and other disturbances.

“I used photography and videography extensively in my own research after that, and I’ve been obsessed with wildlife photography and scientific photojournalism ever since,” Güell said. “I fell in love with the challenge of capturing rare and unique moments in nature and sharing my experiences with the world.”

Güell is currently a postdoctoral research associate in FIU’s Institute of Environment. He is working with FIU aquatic ecologist Nathan Dorn studying the predator-prey interactions and small animal population dynamics in the Florida Everglades.