Relevance of mytilid shell microtopographies for fouling defence – a global comparison

Abstract

Prevention of epibiosis is of vital importance for most aquatic organisms, which can have consequences for their ability to invade new areas. Surface microtopography of the shell periostracum has been shown to have antifouling properties for mytilid mussels, and the topography shows regional differences. This article examines whether an optimal shell design exists and evaluates the degree to which shell microstructure is matched with the properties of the local fouling community. Biomimics of four mytilid species from different regional provenances were exposed at eight different sites in both northern and southern hemispheres. Tendencies of the microtopography to both inhibit and facilitate fouling were detected after 3 and 6 weeks of immersion. However, on a global scale, all microtopographies failed to prevent fouling in a consistent manner when exposed to various fouling communities and when decoupled from other shell properties. It is therefore suggested that the recently discovered chemical anti-microfouling properties of the periostracum complement the anti-macrofouling defence offered by shell microtopography.

Habitat structure is more important than nutrient supply in modifying mussel bed assemblage in an upwelling area of the Peruvian coast

“…The barnacle Jehlius cirratus was more abundant per unit area among large mussels, and the tubebuilding polychaete Phragmatopoma moerchi was restricted to large mussels, although the total shell surface areas of small and large mussels were similar. The microtopography and chemical properties of the shell surface are important factors controlling the settlement of epibionts on mytilids (Bers et al 2010); however, it is possible that larvae that actively explore the substratum before settling, such as barnacle cyprids, selected the larger and continuous surface of large mussels reducing, thus, the risk of overgrowing the substratum organisms (i.e. the mussel) and inducing further the settling of conspecifics (Thompson et al 1998;Wahl 2009).…”

Effect of contact angle hysteresis on the removal of the sporelings of the green alga Ulva from the fouling-release coatings synthesized from polyolefin polymers

“…Koch et al 8 reviewed the description of cellular and subcellular plant surface structures, which include hairs, wax crystals, and surface folding where these structures and functions might be useful models for the development of functional materials. Others have noted the correlation between fouling deterrence and the structure of a number of marine organisms e.g., mussel shells, [9][10][11] although shell topography may not be the sole factor moderating deterrence 12 and not all natural surface topographies deter settlement. 13,14 The hydrophobicity of a substrate can be enhanced by adding controlled roughness and chemical modification.…”

Barnacle settlement on rocky shores: Substratum preference and epibiosis on mussels

“…Resin replicas were made from natural mussel shells from which the soft tissues had been removed. This methodology has been successfully applied to separate the effect of microstructure and shell chemistry (Marrs et al, 1995;Bers et al, 2006;Bers et al, 2010). The shells were then gently washed and dried.…”