From isolated ramets to coral colonies: the significance of colony pattern formation in reef restoration practices

Fragmentation in scleractinian corals has been recognized as an important facet in the life history portrait of many species. Fragments (ramets) isolated from existing genets may establish new colonies; a phenomenon that is widely used in a variety of management measures, including restoration of denuded coral reef areas. An analysis of regenerating branches of the Indo-Pacific coral Stylophora pistillata reveals that the architectural complexity of isolated branches may have a significant impact on the initiation of the regeneration process towards the typical structure and complexity of an intact colony. It is suggested that the 3-D structure complexity of isolated ramets should be taken into consideration when applying reef restoration practices.