This framework is designed to support lecturers in delivering integrated, field-oriented learning on coral identification and coral spawning monitoring. It emphasises practical identification skills and clear observation protocols that can be applied during field courses, internships, or student research. For teaching purposes, this framework encourages lecturers to focus on strengthening students’ ability to recognise key morphological features at the genus level. By combining classroom instruction with field experience and laboratory work, lecturers can equip students with the taxonomic and ecological understanding needed to contribute meaningfully to coral research,monitoring, and conservation, such as understanding coral reproduction behavior and conducting reef restoration. This framework can also be used by marine conservation practitioners such as non profit, civil society organisations or diving operators in training their staff, guests or volunteers for coral identification and coral spawning monitoring. It is important to note that larvae rearing and larval propagation are not included as core components of this teaching framework. The primary objective is to enable students to understand spawning behavior and reproductive processes. However, students are encouraged to explore gamete development and larval stages as part of independent or supervised research projects. For example, they may study how gametes develop into larvae and observe when larvae become competent for release. Although larval propagation is not formally included in the teaching framework, it is introduced conceptually as an emerging restoration method. Students may be informed that larval propagation can serve as a less invasive alternative to other methods such as coral transplantation. Understanding spawning dynamics provides the essential foundation for such approaches, even if hands-on larval rearing is not part of the core curriculum. An initiative to improve coral restoration efforts in Indonesia, COSMARINDO (Coral Spawning Monitoring and Awareness for Restoration Network Indonesia) brings together local researchers and coral reef practitioners to enhance the understanding of coral spawning patterns as well as promote non-invasive reef restoration methods. This program is funded by the global Coral R&D Accelerator Platform (CORDAP) and initiated by Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, Luminocean, UNSEEN, and University of the Ryukyus, in collaboration with Universitas Banda Neira, Universitas Pattimura, Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Universitas Hasanuddin, Universitas Udayana, and Universitas Mataram. Following its inception, it also extended collaboration to several NGOs with active restoration projects and a few private stakeholders (e.g. consultancies, resorts and dive operators). This network will contribute data to an open-access database, enhancing the understanding of coral spawning patterns across Indonesia’s vast reef systems.
Widyastuti et al. (Tue,) studied this question.