Microfragmentation as a Coral Reef Restoration Tool: The Role of Genetics, Microbiomes, and Climate Challenges

Coral reefs, vital elements of marine ecosystems, are facing unprecedented challenges posed by the detrimental effects of climate change.Microfragmentation, a newly developed restoration technique that uses controlled coral specimen fragmentation and reattachment to accelerate coral growth, promises to boost reef rehabilitation efforts.This review collates the current knowledge about the effect of holobiont interactions, genetic diversity, and evolutionary processes on coral survival under environmental stress before and after microfragmentation.While investigating the role of microbiome-mediated mechanisms such as stress reduction and nutrient cycling in coral regeneration, the study elucidates the mechanisms by which genetic variety improves coral resilience and adaptability.The interdependence between holobiont dynamics and coral genetics emphasizes the need for all-encompassing restoration approaches that incorporate biological and environmental elements.Despite the fact that microfragmentation is effective in encouraging rapid coral growth, its effectiveness is currently limited by issues such as predation vulnerability and a lack of long-term field studies.This review contributes to the growing body of knowledge on coral reef conservation by providing evidence-based strategies for improving reef resilience in a marine environment prone to the deleterious effects of rapid global warming.