Photo of the Day
silverside fish swimming through mangroves in Cuba's Gardens of the Queen
October 25, 2018
A Swirl of Silversides
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.”
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