We have been interested in the processes driving the origin and maintenance of marine diversity, which have broader impacts for conservation, climate change prediction and sustainable development of marine regions. Our research questions include bridging phenotypic plasticity and ecological speciation, adaptive radiations in corals and octocorals, the coevolution of corals with their symbionts and the effect of soft-barriers in shaping species phylogeography. Our techniques include de novo genome sequencing, population genomics/genetics, global change/ocean acidification mesocosms experiments, and molecular ecology. We have also a team of experienced technical CCR-rebreather divers to study mesophotic corals and endolithic algae symbiosis.

Only publications relevant to mesophotic reefs are indexed.

Deep connections: Divergence histories with gene flow in mesophotic Agaricia corals

Prata KE, Riginos C, Gutenkunst RN, Latijnhouwers KR, Sánchez JA, Englebert N, Hay KB, Bongaerts P (2022)

Mol Ecol

Article DOI

Mesophotic gorgonian corals evolved multiple times and faster than deep and shallow lineages

Sánchez JA, González-Zapata FL, Prada C, Dueñas LF (2021)

Diversity

Article DOI

Corals in the mesophotic zone (40–115 m) at the barrier reef complex from San Andrés Island (Southwestern Caribbean)

Sánchez JA, González-Zapata FL, Dueñas LF, Andrade J, Pico-Vargas AL, Vergara DC, Sarmiento A, Bolaños N (2019)

Front Mar Sci

Article Open Access DOI

Gorgonian Corals

Sánchez JA, Dueñas LF, Rowlet SJ, Gonzalez-Zapata FL, Gonzalez-Zapata FL, Vergara DC, Montaño-Salazar SM, Calixto-Botía I, Gómez CE, Abeytia R, Colin PL, Cordeiro RTS, Pérez CD (2019)

Chapter

Conspicuous endolithic algal associations in a mesophotic reef-building coral

Gonzalez-Zapata FL, Gómez-Osorio S, Sánchez JA (2018)

Coral Reefs

Article DOI