Fusion in coral restoration refers to which of the following?

Fusion in coral restoration specifically refers to the process where micro-fragmented polyps merge back into a larger colony. This method is used to enhance the resilience and health of coral populations by taking small pieces of coral and allowing them to grow together. When these micro-fragments are joined, they can share resources and genetic material, which helps create a more robust and genetically diverse colony. This technique is particularly effective for certain coral species that can successfully merge and maintain functionality as a single, larger unit.

Other strategies in coral restoration, like combining different species or using synthetic materials, serve different goals such as biodiversity enhancement or structural support, but they do not encapsulate the concept of fusion in the biological sense of merging living coral structures. Grafting corals onto substrates can support growth but is not synonymous with the cellular merging that occurs in the fusion process.