Desiccation as a mitigation tool to manage biofouling risks: trials on temperate taxa to elucidate factors influencing mortality rates. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hopkins, Grant A.; Prince, Madeleine; Cahill, Patrick L.; Fletcher, Lauren M.; Atalah, Javier
• Is Part Of: Biofouling. Volume 32:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 11
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Biofouling -- desiccation -- invasive species management -- anthropogenic spread -- treatment tools; Marine fouling organisms -- Periodicals; Materials -- Biodeterioration -- Periodicals; Fouling -- Periodicals; Biodegradation -- Periodicals; Environmental Microbiology -- Periodicals; Water Microbiology -- Periodicals; 576.165
• DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2015.1115484
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0892-7014

Abstract

Abstract: The desiccation tolerance of biofouling taxa (adults and early life-stages) was determined under both controlled and 'realistic' field conditions. Adults of the ascidian Ciona spp. died within 24 h. Mortality in the adult blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis occurred within 11 d under controlled conditions, compared with 7 d when held outside. The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas was the most desiccation-tolerant taxon tested (up to 34 d under controlled conditions). Biofouling orientated to direct sunlight showed faster mortality rates for all the taxa tested. Mortality in Mytilus juveniles took up to 24 h, compared with 8 h for Ciona, with greater survival at the higher temperature (18.5°C) and humidity (~95% RH) treatment combination. This study demonstrated that desiccation can be an effective mitigation method for a broad range of fouling taxa, especially their early life-stages. Further work is necessary to assess risks from other high-risk species such as algae and cyst forming species.