Microfragmentation is a reproductive process in coral reef ecosystems where larger coral colonies divide into numerous smaller fragments, each capable of developing into a new colony. This natural or artificially induced process accelerates coral growth and reef restoration through asexual reproduction.
The process involves breaking coral colonies into fragments of 1-3 centimeters, maintaining optimal surface area to volume ratios for regeneration. These microfragments exhibit enhanced growth rates through rapid tissue expansion and skeletal deposition, achieving rates up to 50 times faster than natural coral growth.
Microfragmentation capitalizes on coral’s inherent regenerative capabilities, utilizing specialized cutting tools and precise environmental parameters to maximize survival rates. The technique proves particularly effective with massive coral species like Orbicella faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa. When multiple microfragments of the same genotype are placed in proximity, they exhibit fusion behavior, forming larger, genetically identical colonies through a process called reskinning.
