[Coral-List] Video of reefs of Islas del Rosario, Colombia

[Pawlik, Joseph]

For those interested, here's a video from 2 weeks ago of the reefs off Islas del Rosario, Colombia (Caribbean coast):

https://youtu.be/WL-KofaD4eY

Be sure to change the resolution to 4K for the best viewing.
Videos are from 4 dive sites (indicated in video) on the south side of Islas del Rosario, Colombian Caribbean, recorded 18-19 February 2023. Coral cover is high, (mostly Orbicella, Diploria, Agaricia) despite proximity to Cartagena and sediment loads from nearby river mouths and canals. Coral disease is present (6:20) and there is plenty of evidence of past coral loss. Very high abundance of sponges on these reefs, with many large giant barrel sponges (10:50). Also, these sites are strangely free of emergent (branching or fan shaped) gorgonian corals, which are abundant on most Caribbean reefs.

Enjoy,



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Joseph R. Pawlik

Frank Hawkins Kenan Distinguished Professor of Marine Biology

Dept. of Biology and Marine Biology

UNCW Center for Marine Science

5600 Marvin K Moss Lane

Wilmington, NC  28409

Office:(910)962-2377; Cell:(910)232-3579

Website: http://people.uncw.edu/pawlikj/index.html

PDFs: http://people.uncw.edu/pawlikj/pubs2.html

Video Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/skndiver011

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