Sublethal response of barnacles to chlorine: An experimental study for power plant biofouling control

Abstract

Results of the study on sublethal responses of Megabalanus tintinnabulum, an acorn barnacle exposed to different levels of chlorine, is presented. In control, juvenile barnacles showed increased filtration rates, cirral activity and oxygen consumption per unit body weight as compared to larger barnacles. When both the size groups were exposed to chlorine levels, filtration rates and cirral activity declined. In larger barnacles the decline in filtration and cirral activity was less prominent. A decline in oxygen consumption observed in larger barnacles appears to be due to anaerobic metabolism under chlorinated conditions, when shell valves close. Juveniles appear to have normal oxygen consumption rates and thus may be more prone to stress.

Response of green mussel,Perna viridis(L.) to chlorine in the context of power plant biofouling control

“…In such a chlorination regime, the doses employed are always less than 1 ppm and may be as small as 0.2 ppm or even less. Under such conditions control is achieved not on the basis of direct killing action (Rajagopal et al, 1991b;Sasikumar et al, 1993). At lower levels, chlorine interferes with the physiological functions of the mussels and thereby affects the metabolism (Lewis, 1985).…”