Which term describes the method where a coral colony breaks and fragments grow into individual colonies with the same genes?

The method where a coral colony breaks into parts, and those fragments grow into individual colonies while maintaining the same genetic material is known as fragmentation. This natural process allows corals to propagate and expand their presence in their environment. When a piece of coral breaks off, each fragment can survive and develop into a new colony, essentially cloning the original. This method is crucial for coral populations, particularly after events like storms or physical damage, allowing them to recover and restore their numbers efficiently.

While budding is a form of asexual reproduction involving the formation of a new individual from an outgrowth, it does not involve the breakage of an existing colony. The term reproduction is broader and encompasses all forms of coral reproduction, including sexual and asexual methods, but does not specifically refer to the physical fragmentation of coral. Similarly, splitting inaccurately implies a different process without the specific context of coral proliferation and genetic continuity implied by fragmentation. Thus, fragmentation is the most accurate term for the described process.