Wildlife photographer of the year 2008

Bat house, Christian Ziegler, Germany. Highly commended in the animals in their environment category
A common big-eared bat circles its fallen tree-trunk roost. The species was one of the subjects Christian focused on in his quest to illustrate how different feeding and roosting habits allow 74 species of bat to live together on the tropical island of Barro Colorado in Panama. Canon EOS 5D, 16-35mm lens, 4 secs at f8 Photograph: Christian Ziegler/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008

Sandpiper congregation, Arthur Morris, USA. Highly commended in the animal behaviour: birds category
Arthur to Cordova, Alaska, in early May to photograph migrating sandpipers. But when he got there he was told he’d missed the migration by a week and that only a few birds were left. A friend told him he might find a flock on a sandbar very near town – and there in full view was a congregation of 6,000. Canon EOS-1D, EF500mm lens, 1/60 sec at f22 Photograph: Arthur Morris/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008

Colourful business, Noam Kortler, Israel. Highly commended in the underwater world category
‘A little cleaner fish will dart out and pick off a couple of parasites,’ says Noam about the reef around Moses Rock, Eilat, Israel. Most big reef fish make a point of turning up daily for a grooming session, which can last several minutes. Here a bullethead parrotfish holds its mouth open so a cleaner can peck inside. Nikon D2x, 105mm f2.8G micro lens, 1/125 at f13 Photograph: Noam Kortler/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008

Bee-eater ballet, Chris van Rooyen, South Africa. Highly commended in the animal portraits category
A boat on the Zambezi was the perfect hide from which to observe a colony of at least 1,000 bee-eaters in Caprivi, Namibia. Activity was constant, and the birds never stopped chirruping as they chased insects. ‘I had the distinct impression some were just having fun,’ says Chris. Canon EOS-1D, EF500mm f4 lens, 1/2500 sec at f8 Photograph: Chris van Rooyen/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008

Treetop jigsaw, Brittany Fried, USA. Highly commended in the 10 years and under category
‘I found it intriguing’, says Brittany about the rainforest in Malaysia, ‘that something as simple as treetops could look as beautiful as these did.’ They slotted together in a way that reminded her of a jigsaw. ‘I love nature,’ she says, ‘and the thought of a giant puzzle made me think how amazing the Earth is and how small humans are. Nikon Coolpix S9 Photograph: Brittany Fried/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008