Correlation between surface chemistry and settlement behaviour in barnacle cyprids (Balanus improvisus)

Abstract

In conclusion, it is demonstrated that despite previous suggestions to the contrary, these two species of barnacle show similar preferences in response to surface free energy; they also respond similarly to charge. These findings have positive implications for the development of novel antifouling coatings and support the importance of consistency in substrate choice for assays designed to compare surface preferences of fouling organisms.

Charged hydrophilic polymer brushes and their relevance for understanding marine biofouling

“…Beside a high settlement density, we also found qualitative difference in spores attached on the cationic PDMAEMA. Fino et al 2014, Petrone et al 2011) using various charged SAMs, in two respects: 1) settlement was highest on the anionic surface, and 2) the overall pattern of settlement for both species was very similar. Low settlement of cyprids on the PHEMA-co-PEG10MA surface is also in accordance with results obtained by Aldred et al (2011) who observed fewer footprints of cyprid temporary adhesive deposited during searching behavior by Semibalanus balanoides on a PEG10MA/HEMA hydrogel compared to a range of model SAMs.…”

“…Studies in our own laboratory , Ederth et al 2009) and also by others ) have confirmed that the surface charge has a considerable impact on the settlement of zoospores of U. linza. Similarly, in studies using different SAMs it was found that settlement of barnacle cyprids of Balanus amphitrite and B. improvisus was higher on negatively charged surfaces, compared to neutral and positively charged SAMs (48 h incubation) (Di Fino et al 2014, Petrone et al 2011. Considering that most materials and also natural surfaces are negatively charged in aqueous media, it would be expected that most organisms have adhesion mechanisms adapted to anionic surfaces.…”

Hydration and Chain Entanglement Determines the Optimum Thickness of Poly(HEMA-co-PEG10MA) Brushes for Effective Resistance to Settlement and Adhesion of Marine Fouling Organisms

“…7 Understanding how physicochemical properties of surfaces influence the attachment, adhesion and settlement of fouling organisms is essential for the development of new non-toxic antifouling technologies and in designing effective and environmentally benign antifouling coatings. To this end, fouling on well-defined and carefully characterized surface chemistries, such as various oligoethylene glycol selfassembled monolayers (OEG SAMs), [8][9] peptide SAMs, [10][11] saccharide SAMs 12-13 and polymers [14][15][16] and physicochemical properties such as wettability, 9,17 surface energy, [18][19] roughness, 20-21 thickness 22 elastic modulus [22][23] charge 18,24 and several other properties 25 have been studied intensively to understand the role of surface properties on the mechanisms responsible for settlement and adhesion of fouling organisms.…”

Modulation of gregarious settlement of the stalked barnacle, <em>Pollicipes pollicipes</em>: a laboratory study

“…The aerated treatment (aerated) was achieved by placing weak point aeration inside the adult tube, facilitating larval movement by force of air bubbling inside and allowing the air to escape by means of a secondary tube. A treatment with an air-water interface (interface), identical to the moving treatment, was also established to allow comparison with treatments in which settlement was tested excluding air, as cyprids often become trapped at the air-water interface (Di Fino et al 2014). This had the tubes containing the adults fully filled with FSW to 0.5 cm from the top, which allowed a liquid meniscus and air-water interface within each tube.…”