Coral restoration increasingly relies on outplanting branching Acropora species, yet the influence of outplant configuration on early colony performance remains poorly understood. We evaluated whether monoculture versus mixed-species outplantings affect the growth and survival of Acropora parahemprichii and Acropora muricata at a restoration site in Nusa Penida, Indonesia. Coral fragments were transplanted onto artificial reef structures and monitored over a 50-week period. Both species grew substantially faster when outplanted in monoculture than when grown in mixed-species assemblages, with A. muricata showing the strongest response. In contrast, survival differed between species but did not vary between outplant configurations. These findings indicate that mixed-species outplantings can constrain early colony growth without increasing mortality. Our results demonstrate that spatial configuration is an important factor influencing coral performance during the early stages of restoration. Incorporating monoculture patches to accelerate initial coral cover, alongside mixed-species or genetically diverse assemblages to support longer-term resilience, may improve the effectiveness of coral restoration strategies.
Andrew CF Taylor (2026) studied this question.