by further grow-out of the young colonies in sea-based
nurseries (Epsteinet al.2001; Rinkevich 2005). An added
value of using small fragments is the fact that less material
from donor colonies is needed. Cutting away more than
10% of adult colonies ofStylophora pistillatawas found to
reduce the viability of the donor colonies (Epstein et al.
2001). Additionally, from the perspective of the donor colonies, removal of long branches may render the original
colonies infertile or result in low fecundities for some years,
as observed for colonies ofAcropora palmataafter hurricane-induced natural fragmentation (Lirman 2000).