Analysis of initial fouling process in coastal environment: effects of settlement, attachment, and metamorphosis promoters

摘要

Effects of lumichrome, L-tryptophan, and curcumin on fouling organisms were examined on panels immersed in a near-showre aquatic environment. These products showed effective action in aquariums in preliminary screening tests for promoting different steps of fouling. Lumichrome shoed metamorphosisinducing activity for ascidian larvae (Halocynthia), L-tryptophan was a settlement-inducer for larvae of barnacles (Balanus), and curcumin showed attachment-promoting activity on the blue mussel (Mytilus). In order to establish that these tests are helpful in screening actual fouling or antifouling compounds, we examined the action of these three compounds in a coastal environment by following the first steps of biofouling, that is, by studying the quantity of chlorophyll, the number of bacterial cells, and the larvae settled. These experiments on the seashore indicated that these compounds did not act as promoters for the target organisms; however, they did show promoting effects on some nontarget organisms.