National Geographic February 2007

Mangroves { Mangroves: Forests of the Tide}
At the intersection of land and sea, mangrove forests support a wealth of life, from starfish to people, and may be more important to the health of the planet than we ever realized. BY KENNEDY WARNE PHOTOGRAPHS BY TIM LAMAN
Hawaii’s Unearthly Worms
Lowly marine worms ply shallow shores, ocean deeps, and just about everywhere in between. Off the Hawaiian Islands, they assume spectacular forms. BY JENNIFER S. HOLLAND PHOTOGRAPHS BY DARLYNE A. MURAWSKI
Curse of Nigerian Oil { Curse of the Black Gold; Oil in Nigeria; Curse of the Black Gold: Hope and Betrayal in the Niger Delta}
The Niger Delta holds some of the world’s richest oil deposits, yet Nigerians living there are poorer than ever, violence is rampant, and the land and water are fouled. What went wrong? BY TOM O’ NEILL PHOTOGRAPHS BY ED KASHI
Healing the Heart { Mending Broken Hearts}
As heart disease reaches epidemic proportions worldwide, researchers are moving away from the old clogged- pipes model to search for triggers lurking in our genes. BY JENNIFER KAHN PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT CLARK
Beauty on the Border { Desolate Majesty; Beyond Big Bend; Beyond Big Bend: Desolate Majesty}
Straddling Texas and Mexico, the Big Bend region is high in biodiversity and low in footprints. It’s a place so untamed that if something doesn’t bite, stick, or sting, it’s probably a rock. BY JOE NICK PATOSKI PHOTOGRAPHS BY JACK W. DYKINGA