Our work - CEMarin

The main places in which CEMarin carries out its investigations are located in Colombia, one of the “Megadiverse Countries" of the world, which possess a high richness in species of fauna and flora, ecosystems and habitats. In fact, of 70% of the biodiversity attributed to the Group of Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries (LMMC), 10% is attributed to Colombia.

Although the country represents less than 1% of the Earth’s surface, it is among the first in terms of the number of endemic species. 68,7% of its surface is covered by natural ecosystems and is the first nation in the world in number of amphibian and bird species and, additionally, the country has a vast marine territory in two oceans (the Pacific and the Caribbean).

For all these factors Colombia is considered the second among the most biodiverse countries in the world per square kilometer and an environmental power with privileged conditions, so the promotion of marine sciences and the protection and sustainable use of marine resources are a priority in the country. In particular, the loss of marine biodiversity, the increasing destruction of coastal habitats, industry and tourism, as well as the adverse influence of global warming, have been a source of concern to scientists and politicians for a long time.

An important quality of the places where the research is carried out is that they have similar characteristics, including the presence of large rivers, estuaries, mangroves and coral reefs, which allow comparative inquiry. They are: Santa Marta (Caribbean Coast), Islas del Rosario (Caribbean Coast), Gulf of Urabá (Caribbean Coast) and Bahía Málaga (Pacific Coast).

• Evidence of incipient ecological speciation in the Caribbean Octocoral Antillogorgia Bipinnata (Cnidaria: Octocorallia): an integrative approach.
• Population dynamics and metagenomics of sea fans Pacifigorgia: Invasive species and microbial diseases in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
• Factors that regulate reproductive success in the process of invasion of a marine fish in tropical environments.
• The impact of warming and ocean acidification on the bacteria associated with corals and their interaction with the coral host.
• Evaluation of the population status of two native sea cucumbers in the Colombian Caribbean and laboratory tests for reproduction and cultivation.
• Evaluation of seagrass beds as carbon reservoirs: a case study in the Colombian Caribbean (Seaflower biosphere reserve).
• Sustainability factors for artisanal fishing in the Colombian Pacific Coast.
• Pilot treatment for the elimination in port of invasive species of ballast water: phase II.
• Reef-building Vermetidae in the Caribbean: ecological importance for the survival of the associated fauna.

• The metagenome and transcriptome assembly of the Porites rus hermatypic coral: a holobiont approach under a climate change scenario.
• Recent geomorphological evolution of Buenaventura Bay: natural processes and human intervention.
• Molecular characterization of Ulva lactuca epiphytic bacteria and search for enzymes with biotechnological potential.
• Analysis of the coexpression of genes associated with Imposex, induced by exposure to organic tin compounds.
• Prediction and seasonality of potential fishing areas for dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) and tuna (Thunnus sp) and their relationship with environmental changes in the Colombian Pacific.
• Comparative phylogeography of marine organisms with ample and limited vagility in the Southern Caribbean.
• Dynamics and population structure of shallow water shrimp Farfantepenaeus Notialis, in the Colombian Caribbean for management and conservation purposes.
• Ecological and phylogenomic diversification of the Octocoral Eunicea genus of the Caribbean.

The CEMarin researchers are professors and/or leaders of research groups of the member institutions of the Corporation that have expressed their intention to actively contributing to it. Our team of researchers currently is made up of a group of ninety Colombian and German scientists.

If you are interested in becoming part of this team, you can contact us through convocatorias@cemarin.org and send us a letter stating your intention to become an investigator of our Corporation and the reason why you want to do so. The request will be evaluated as soon as possible and a response will be given through that same means.

The CEMarin associated researchers are professors and/or leaders of research groups of institutions that are not members of the Corporation, but they have expressed their intention to actively contribute to it.

If you are interested in becoming part of this team, you can contact us through convocatorias@cemarin.org and must request the Scientific Committee to grant you the category of CEMarin associate researcher, explaining the reasons why you would like to be associated to our Corporation as an investigator. The Committee will study the request and give you an answer through an email.