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Environment Main Global Warming Natural Disasters Habitats FRESHWATER

Photo Gallery: U.S. Marine Protected Areas

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A red snapper cruises the waters off Kingman Reef—a part of the Line Islands that straddle the Equator 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) south of Hawai'i. The snapper is one of the most abundant predators at the reef, second only to sharks. The large fish is a consummate hunter, eating everything from giant clams to sea urchins. The waters here "are completely dominated by their predators," says National Geographic Fellow and marine ecologist Enric Sala. "Imagine the Serengeti with five lions per wildebeest. This is Kingman Reef." Photograph by Enric Sala