From tropical coral reefs to temperate estuary oyster reefs, nature’s most diverse ecosystems are built by master architects. the study Published in nature It turns out that the complex shapes of these reefs are not random, but follow precise geometric rules that maximize survival.

Joint research with the University of Tokyo Hawaii in Manoa Hawaii Marine Biological Research Institute (Himbu) and Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, provide a proven guide to restoring damaged marine habitats and protecting the critical seafood sources that local communities depend on.

“This study shows that there are universal structural rules for coral reef survival,” said Joshua Maddin, senior author of the study. Himbu Research Professor and Research Director Himbu Conservation Innovation Group. “Nature has already solved the design problem. Our job is to read that blueprint and expand it so reefs can grow faster and last longer.”

geometry of survival

Using high-resolution 3D mapping and field experiments in Australia, the team designed a concrete structure spanning a wide range of complex surfaces. They found that while simple structures exposed young shellfish to predators and overly complex structures had diminishing returns, survival peaked at certain optimal combinations of height and fractal dimension, exactly the geometries found in thriving natural coral reefs.

“Coral reefs are more than just piles of skeletons and shells,” said the study’s lead author, Juan Esquivel Muelberto from Macquarie University. “They are finely tuned three-dimensional machines. Their shape controls who lives, who dies, and how fast coral reefs grow.”

Although the fieldwork focused on oysters, the theoretical principles Himbu Apply directly to coral reefs.

R3D project

This study provides biological validation of cutting-edge restoration efforts currently underway. Hawaii. The geometric principles utilized in this paper are ah Rapid Resilient Coral Reef Project for Coastal Defense (R3D), a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency-funded project that deploys giant geometric coral reef modules off the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Oahu.

By mimicking the “optimal shape” of coral reefs, using the same principles identified in the study, these man-made structures are designed not just to break waves, but to attract coral larvae, protect them from predators, and grow into thriving reefs.

“We are applying these exact principles to coral restoration here. Hawaii,” Maddin said. “My recent work is Himbu We tested these 3D printed designs and found they could increase coral settlement and survival by 80 times compared to natural reef surfaces. By building with the right geometry, you can activate the feedback loops that allow reefs to build themselves. ”