Conflict and survival: Biology photo award

two frogs on a lilypad, sacttered with smaller leavesDarpan Basak

"Mating": Two frogs caught in the act on a lotus leaf - one of three photos shortlisted for Young Photographer of the Year

The Royal Society of Biology has announced the shortlist for its Photographer of the Year awards.

In the main category there are seven photos by amateur photographers, as well as three shots shortlisted for Young Photographer of the Year.

These were taken by Darpan Pasak, Timofev Zubarev and Oliver Tidswell - aged 12, 13 and 17 respectively.

sprig of vegetation on a sand duneTimofey Zubarev

"Loneliness and stubbornness": Sea rocket clinging to a dune on the Curonian Spit in Russia - another image on the young photographer shortlist

The society invited submissions from around the world, on the theme of "conflict and survival".

The shortlisted photos include squabbles for food and mates between seabirds and muskox, as well as insects, plants and snails struggling against the environment and other species.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on October 15, during Biology Week.

purple flower sprouting from between rocks with snow-capped mountains in the backgroundOliver Tidswell

"Little one": A flowering plant at an altitude of 5,550m in the Pensi La Pass, India, also makes the young photographer shortlist

two muskox headbutting each other on the crest of a hillFabio Pupin

"Headbutts": Two male muskox in Dovrefjell, Norway, engage in a prolonged series of head-to-head clashes until one of them yields

bright yellow fish among fronds of seagrassPaddy Ryan

"All, all alone": A tiny juvenile anemone fish finds a place of refuge in the ocean off the Philippines

men perched on tall poles over waves on a beach, holding fishing linesDebdatta Chakraborty

"The herons": Stilt fishermen in the south-western beaches of Sri Lanka, perched on their "pettas", make the best of meagre pickings

two seabirds tussling in mid-air over a fish, which both are gripping with their beaksDavide Gaglio

"The last sardine": Two seabirds on Robben Island in South Africa are unwilling to gamble on whether or not there are, in fact, plenty more fish in the sea

two impala locking antlers while another approaches in the backgroundBarbara Stanley

"Impala fighting": In Namibia, male impala battle for dominance and to determine their place in the breeding hierarchy

two snails on a blade of grass, both infected by parasitic flatwormsBeverley Brouwer

"Double trouble": These two snails are both playing host to parasitic flatworms, which develop in the snail's stomach and then invade its antennae, putting on a caterpillar-like display to attract birds

a red ant in extreme close-up, hemmed in on a leaf by much smaller caterpillarsAnthony Cooper

"Red ant scared off by sawfly caterpillars": These recently hatched caterpillars all sprang from their eggs simultaneously when an ant approached

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