That sounds like a fun exercise. First off, a reef’s “defense line” isn’t just a wall of corals; it’s a community. The hard corals like *Acropora* build the structure, but the real frontline are the tiny, fast‑growing sea fans that can quickly replace damaged skeletons. They’re like the emergency responders, growing overnight to plug gaps. Then there are the zooxanthellae algae that power the whole system; if they’re stressed by heat or acidification, the reef’s metabolism slows like a ship stuck in a fog. So in your tactical map, remember to keep the symbionts healthy and the macro‑algae in check—those can smother the coral if left unchecked. Also, guard the fish that graze on algal overgrowth; their absence is a silent breach that could let the reef buckle. Finally, keep a buffer zone of seagrass or mangroves; they act like a storm‑break, filtering pollutants and providing nursery ground for juvenile corals. That’s the ecological blueprint—now let’s see if your tactics hold up.