Surface Sensing and Settlement Strategies of Marine Biofouling Organisms

Abstract

This review article summarizes some recent insights into the strategies used by marine organisms to select surfaces for colonization. While larger organisms rely on their sensory machinery to select surfaces, smaller microorganisms developed less complex but still effective ways to probe interfaces. Two examples, zoospores of algae and barnacle larvae, are discussed and both appear to have build-in test mechanisms to distinguish surfaces with different physicochemical properties. Some systematic studies on the influence of surface cues on exploration, settlement and adhesion are summarized. The intriguing notion that surface colonization resembles a parallelized surface sensing event is discussed towards its complementarity with conventional surface analytical tools. The strategy to populate only selected surfaces seems advantageous as waves, currents and storms constantly challenge adherent soft and hard fouling organism.

Biochemistry of Barnacle Adhesion: An Updated Review

“…Underwater adhesion of the cyprid contains two successive stages, temporary surface exploration, and permanent surface settlement. Prior to permanent settlement, the cyprid must explore the substrate to decide whether to colonize on it; the cyprid settles permanently if the substrate is satisfactory, otherwise it returns to the water column (Aldred and Clare, 2008;Rosenhahn and Sendra, 2012). It was found that cyprids prefer to settle on substrates where the temporary adhesion is strong, and thus it requires a larger force to detach them from these preferable substrates (Aldred et al, 2010).…”

Microfluidic detachment assay to probe the adhesion strength of diatoms

“…The microfluidic experiment and optimized assay conditions for the diatom N. perminuta are discussed. To demonstrate the applicability of the technique, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with different wettability (Ista et al 1996(Ista et al , 2004Callow et al 2000;Finlay et al 2008;Rosenhahn & Sendra 2012) and hydration (Prime & Whitesides 1993;Ostuni et al 2001;Schilp et al 2009) were used as model surfaces.…”

The Interaction of Biofoulants and Calcareous Deposits on Corrosion Performance of Q235 in Seawater

“…For all of the specimens, a visible, clear biofouling film covered of the entire surface after four weeks. Previous research indicates that this biofouling film consists of larvae and spores, soft-bodied organisms, and metabolites [36]. Furthermore, sessile organisms replaced moss nematodes after eight-week exposure, whereas the previously mentioned biofouling film and their metabolites decayed and decomposed in this phase.…”