Natural Artistry

By  Shelley Cant  •  Photos By Dominic Cant

Mangroves

are ubiquitous  in the Bahamas, so much so that you could take them for granted. That would be a mistake, for along with coral reefs, they are the backbone and lifeblood of the nation, geographically and economically.
While most people see visions of casinos when they think of Nassau and New Providence island, on the island’s south shore is the country’s newest National Park, Bonefish Pond, which is both an homage to and a celebration of mangroves and coastal wetlands.
Bonefish Pond is not really a pond, but a shallow bay with 1,200 acres of wetland, forming an important marine nursery habitat while the mangroves themselves provide human communities protection from storm surges. Bonefish National Park opened April 22.

At a first glance they appear barren, but within those entangled roots lives a variety of wildlife. As an adaptation to the salty environment, the Red Mangrove stores excess salt in its leaves and sheds them frequently. It is this constant shedding of leaves that helps to feed a very productive ecosystem.

Dragonflies like this Blue Spotted Comet Darner (Anax concolor ) dance across the water’s surface. These are voracious predators celebrated for their ability to control mosquito populations. Like the mosquito, they have an aquatic larval stage, but the dragonfly devours mosquitoes at all stages of its development.

Coastal wetlands are a first line of defense against storm surge and this has never been more apparent than after the Asian tsunami disaster of 2004. Mangrove roots cannot stop waves completely, but the complex structure of the entangled root system depresses wave energy, lessening devastation inland.

Many creatures feed and hide among the roots. During the winter you are sure to find a recently settled juvenile Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) using the roots as a convenient place to forage. Coastal wetlands are the nursery of many commercially important creatures.

Countless birds depend on wetlands and many different feeding strategies are utilized. Some birds sift or prod the mud for invertebrates while others stand motionless awaiting that perfect moment to ambush an unsuspecting fish. None do this quite as gracefully as the Great Egret (Ardea alba).

In 1997 the Bahamas signed onto the Ramsar Convention declaring its dedication to the sustainable use of wetlands. In 2002 Bonefish Pond was set aside for protection. A new boardwalk  allows visitors to enjoy the beauty of wetlands just minutes from the capital city.

Of course this nursery attracts the attention of many predators. Including this master of disguise, the Peacock Flounder (Bothus lunatus).

The Cants are a brother and sister team making a powerful voice for the Bahamian environment. Shelley has a degree in biology and is the Education Officer for the Bahamas National Trust. After earning a degree in fine art, in 2007 Dominic published a coffee table photography book titled, In a World of Water–Bahamas. As he says, “We enjoy being miles away from civilization with nothing but time and the urge to see something new. Shelley and I make a good team.”