One very convenient thing about working with coral is that they are colonial organisms.
研究珊瑚最方便的一点就是珊瑚是群体生物。
PBS地球-动物趣闻
But these could be the fossils of colonial unicellular organisms, bacterial mats, or something else entirely.
但这些可能是殖民地单细胞生物、细菌垫或其他完全不同的东西的化石。
英语百科
Colony (biology)
(重定向自Colonial organism)
In biology, a colony is composed of two or more conspecific individuals living in close association with, or connected to, one another, usually for mutual benefit such as stronger defense or the ability to attack bigger prey. In contrast, a solitary organism is one in which all individuals live independently and have all of the functions needed to survive and reproduce.