The Lago Enriquillo fringing reef (Dominican Republic): a unique window into Holocene coral reef ecosystems of the Caribbean Sea

Abstract

The Enriquillo Valley in southwestern Dominican Republic features exceptionally well-preserved outcrops of a fringing coral reef that thrived between 9.0–5.0 ka BP during the final stages of post-glacial sea-level rise. The arid climate and relatively young age have contributed to the reef’s pristine condition, exposing distinct ecological zonation, including shallow branching coral formations and deeper mixed-coral zones. Following the closure of a marine seaway, Lago Enriquillo underwent significant evaporative drawdown, subaerially exposing the reef. This unique GeoSite provides a rare opportunity to study an undeformed Holocene reef using geological field methods. The prevalence of sediment-tolerant coral species and stable isotope analyses suggest high sedimentation rates and decadal cyclicity in precipitation, driven by freshwater influx rather than temperature. These findings offer valuable insights into past environmental changes and reef ecosystem dynamics.