Academic Publications
Explore the extensive collection of research papers, articles, and studies authored by Dr. Medina.
Access to her Google Scholar profile, where you can delve into her contributions to the field and expertise that define her academic journey.
Research Projects
Coral ancient DNA
Coral skeletons are natural archives that record both environmental change and the biological history of reef ecosystems. We are developing coral ancient DNA, or coraDNA, approaches to recover fragmented DNA from coral skeletons preserved in reef cores. By combining clean-lab methods, metagenomics, and geochemical context, we aim to reconstruct past coral holobionts, including the coral host, Symbiodiniaceae, and associated microbial communities, and understand how reefs have responded to climate stress through time.
cassiopea xamachana as a cnidarian model system
We have been developing the Upside-down Jellyfish as a model system to investigate the cnidarian holobiont in the lab. c. xamachana also harbors the same photosymbionts as corals, making it a suitable comparative system. The onset of symbiosis triggers strobilation, a developmental transition, enabling the study of cnidarian development in the context of symbiosis. We are also exploring the regenerative capabilities of this organism with and without its symbiotic algae.
The microbial community in the holobiont
We are part of the Global Coral Microbiome Project where we contribute to our understanding of coral- and Symbiodiniaceae-associated microbiomes. We use amplicon-based next-generation sequencing to examine microbial diversity in different holobionts as well as metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to shed light on the functional role microbes may have in metabolic complementarity.
Coral-algal symbiosis
Coral reefs are benthic communities that survive near their homeostatic threshold. A healthy symbiosis between scleractinian corals and their intracellular photosynthetic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae) is central to a healthy reef. We study the onset and breakdown (i.e., bleaching) of symbiosis in multiple cnidarian systems such as scleractinian corals and the Upside-down Jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana.
Reef conservation/ restoration
Since 2014, we have been investigating a turbid reef (Varadero) in the Colombian Caribbean that was threatened by dredging. Our research findings combined with the voices of local scientists and activists contributed to the protection of the reef. We now engage in participatory research and conservation efforts in the region, as well as reef restoration leading several award-winning branding projects including Strn.