The Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area (KHFMA), Maui, Hawaii, is an important shallow-water coral reef ecosystem, providing essenFal habitat and protection for reef fish and echinoderms from predators. However, the nearby Lahaina Wastewater ReclamaFon Facility discharges nutrient-rich effluent onto the reef via submarine groundwater discharge, which represents a potential threat to the ecosystem. This nutrient pollution, along with increasing water acidity near the vent site, may heighten the risk of coral bleaching, disease, and mortality. We aimed to characterize the coral microbiome within KHFMA and compare microbial populations across a gradient from the vent site. Samples, including coral fragments, mucus, and water, were collected from six sites within KHFMA at sunrise, noon, and sunset in July of 2023. DNA was extracted and amplified using polymerase chain reaction targeting 16S rRNA and Symbiodinaceae ITS2 to analyze prokaryotic communities and zooxanthellae diversity, respectively. Preliminary results display trends in the composition of prokaryotic communities influenced by higher nutrient concentrations near the venting site. This study contributes to the knowledge of diversity and structure of coral-associated microbial communities under varying polluted conditions and will inform conservation strategies and regulations to mitigate the impact of pollution on these essenFal marine ecosystems.

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