Silversides swim through the mangroves of Cuba's Gardens of the Queen marine reserve, like a river in the sea. The dense forest of roots offers welcome shelter for the finger-size fish, which form large schools to try to confuse predators. Mangroves enhance reefs by providing a nursery area for vulnerable creatures and by trapping sediment that can smother coral. They also store carbon that might otherwise contribute to global warming. Buy a print of this photo.

This photo was originally published in “Cuba’s Underwater Jewels Are in Tourism’s Path.”