Tim Laman

PHOTO GALLERIES: MANGROVES

This collection of images was taken for a National Geographic story that was published in February 2007. Tim traveled to more than six countries to capture the diversity of life and use of the world's mangroves.

Late afternoon light illuminates Sonneratia mangrove forest and adjacent mudflat at low tide in an aerial view. Lines of breathing roots protruding from the mud radiate out from the trees.
   
A single seedling of a Red Mangrove with bright green leaves grows next to the trunk of a Bruguiera mangrove. Knee-like roots of Bruguiera mangroves cover the ground at low tide along a mangrove lined river.
   
Royal Bengal Tiger in the mangrove forest of the Sundarbans.
     
  
Aerial view of river and mangrove forest in the Sarawak Mangrove Reserve.
   
Snappers, silversides, and a sea star share space in the underwater world of the mangrove forest.
   
Rich invertebrate life including in some places corals, tunicates, and sponges, cover the underwater portions of red mangrove roots on this offshore mangrove island in Belize.
     
  
Scarlet Ibises in flight to their roosting sites on small mangrove islands in the Caroni Swamp mangrove forest.
   
A brain coral growing around red mangrove roots in Belize is seen refracted from above water and seen directly below water in this split level view.
   
Arching roots of Rhizophora (Red mangrove) cross over the spike roots of Sonneratia mangroves.
     
  
The view from below - under the mangroves. This habitat is an important nursery area and provides shelter for many fish species.
   
Juvenile Roseate Spoonbills (Ajaia ajaja)
   
Scarlet ibises flying out from their mangrove roosting trees before sunrise in the Caroni Swamp. Some snowy egrets are also present.
     
  
Two Brown-winged Kingfishers perch on the same branch. Possible beginning of courtship behavior.
   
Charcoal wood collectors with boats loaded with Goran wood (Ceriops sp.) harvested from the mangrove forest.
   
Aerial view of shrimp ponds and river on mainland part of Pulau Pinang province.
     
  
Shrimp fry (shrimp larvae) fishing in the Passur River, near Chandpai Village. Each fisherman, working from his own boat, has set a net to capture shrimp fry passing on the current as the tide rises and brings water in from the sea to the mangroves.
   
A fisherman in his fishing boat takes a swig of water while his partner paddles.
   
Men sorting shrimp harvested from a shrimp pond.
     
  
Scenes of the village of Chandpai on the Passur River, where shrimp fry (shrimp larvae) fishing to supply shrimp for the shrimp ponds is the main industry. Villagers live in simple mud and thatch huts that are washed away by high waters every year.
   
Villagers of Chandpai live in simple mud and thatch huts that are washed away by high waters every year.
   
Collecting honey from a honeycomb of the Giant Honeybee (Apis dorsata) using smoke to subdue the bees, and a bush knife to cut the comb.
     
  
Collecting honey from a honeycomb of the Giant Honeybee (Apis dorsata) using a bush knife to cut the comb, and a basket to catch the honey and comb.
   
Mangroves at the edge of the Bay of Bengal on the S coast of Bangladesh. These mangroves are battered by the sea, but are important in protecting the coast from storms and erosion.
   
Planting of Rhizophora mangrove seedlings in a estuary in Bali at low tide.
     
  
Planting of Rhizophora mangrove seedlings in a estuary in Bali at low tide.