What is a recommended maximum percentage of a donor colony to collect?

Collecting a maximum of 10% from a donor colony is considered the best practice in coral restoration efforts. This guideline is essential to ensure the sustainability of the donor population while also promoting healthy genetic diversity within the restored populations. By limiting the amount collected, it allows the donor colony to maintain its ecological role and reproductive output, which is crucial for resilience in the face of environmental changes and stressors.

This figure is derived from the understanding that overharvesting can lead to a decline in coral populations, making them more vulnerable to diseases and other threats. It also supports the principle of minimal impact conservation, by ensuring that the source colony can continue to thrive and contribute to the habitat. In contrast, percentages higher than 10% could jeopardize the health of the donor colony, reducing the number of mature individuals available for future propagation efforts.

The other options suggest either a higher or lower collection percentage, which may not align with best practices for maintaining donor colony health and ecosystem balance.