Abstract Summary
Varadero reef is located in the Bay of Cartagena, Colombia, adjacent to the Canal del Dique, which carries turbid water into the bay. Despite the highly turbid water column and proximity to shore, Varadero is flourishing; it is about 1km2 in size, with 80% coral cover and containing mostly coral species in the genus Orbicella. This reef has only recently been discovered due to the fact that the environmental conditions of the bay have long been perceived as incompatible with reef survival. As a result, much of its biology remains unstudied and unknown. Varadero reef’s survival in undesirable conditions makes it an excellent study site to answer questions on the relationship between the coral microbiome and coral resiliency. The aim of this study is to determine whether the microbiomes in Varadero differ from microbiomes and corals in other regions of the Caribbean that have been unaffected by pollution and a turbid water column. This study will be the first to characterize the microbiome of the water column and sediment of Varadero Reef. Preliminary results from a reciprocal transplant done with corals from Varadero and Rosario (a more “pristine” site) show that survivorship rate was highest in Varadero compared to Rosario and a highly polluted site by the mouth of the bay, suggesting key differences in the biology of Varadero reef.
