NCM 2023 Houston: On-site nanopore sequencing reveals microbial diversity of Colombian Pacific Coast mangrove soils

The mangroves of the Colombian Pacific represent a biodiverse and highly productive region, inhabited by a population that largely relies on economic activities such as fishing and ecotourism, with limited access to energy. This ecosystem plays a pivotal role in maintaining equilibrium within coastal and benthic marine environments. However, as a region that is widely exposed to marine vehicle traffic due to the presence of ports, it is susceptible to a looming threat of hydrocarbon exploitation, as well as other anthropogenic disturbances and the effects of climate change. We used a novel approach—field amplicon sequencing—to explore the diverse microorganisms inhabiting mangrove-associated environments. This approach overcomes challenges posed by extreme weather, transportation limitations, and energy scarcity, enabling us to illuminate the intricate microbial network within mangrove ecosystems. Leveraging state-of-the-art portable, next-generation nanopore sequencing and other compact and lightweight instrumentation, we could establish field laboratories even in remote areas. Field sequencing offers unprecedented insights into the intricate microbial diversity within mangrove ecosystems along the western Colombian Pacific coast. This pioneering study describes the microbial communities associated with the Colombian mangroves using nanopore sequencing.