Does digital analysis of micro image data improve understanding of reality?Contradictions–Challenges: Contradictions–Challenges

Understanding of reality means among many others the ability to recognize, to predict reliably behaviours and properties of certain entities, and to describe. Besides verbal, often metaphorical descriptions, models are frequently used to formalize this understanding. In science the validity of models (hypotheses) has to be proven by experiments. Model parameters like start values, constraints and boundary conditions are often extracted from image data. Qualitative terms like shape, surface, structure (density, texture) and arrangement (spatial relationship) are explored and their possible measurements are outlined. They are also related to underlying experimental questions and intuitive understanding. Particular emphasis is given to properties without a commonly accepted quantitative counter part or which pose difficulties in perception and discrimination.Image analysis in methodologies and results from eco- and geobiology are presented and discussed. Namely, measurements of bacteria in biofilm and in the rhizosphere, characterization of biofilm growth, bacterial impact on surfaces, and automated phytoplankton analysis are outlined and iconographically related.