Researchers photograph ‘micro-monster’ organisms living in Loch Ness

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The weeHoloCam has never before been used on Loch Ness and after its initial dive captured incredible images of what look like “micro-monsters”, but are plankton particles. open image in gallery A state-of-the-art holographic camera has been used to look at the many microscopic organisms that inhabit Loch Ness “This was a unique opportunity for us to deploy the weeHoloCam into fresh water, as it has previously only been used in ocean salt water,” Thangavel Thevar, from the University of Aberdeen said. “We were curious as to what the water quality would be like, especially at lower depths, as we know that too much peat could obstruct the recording path of the instrument” “We lowered the camera to around 200 metres and were able to see lots of interesting particles which, by working with biologists, should be able to give us more information about the biodiversity of Loch Ness.” Is Nessie the sea monster actually real? “One of the applications was from the University of Aberdeen using the weeHoloCam and it really jumped out at us as something we wanted to pursue.” “It has been really exciting having the team here and we look forward to working with them further as they study Loch Ness on a microbial level to see what can be learned.” open image in gallery Aerial view of Loch Ness This year marks 90 years since adventurer Sir Edward Mountain and his team of 20 explorers became the first “watchers” of the fabled Loch Ness monster that is said to inhabit the water.