The study looked at the number of different coral species in a specific area. By studying over 40,000 coral colonies, the researchers found that the distribution of coral species was not random. Instead, they discovered that there were at least three different groups of coral species that were more common than others. This suggests that coral colonies tend to cluster together in certain areas, rather than being spread out evenly. This information can help us better understand how coral communities are structured and how different species interact with each other in the ocean.