THE ECOLOGY OF EARLY FOULING BIOFILMS ON ANTIFOULING SURFACES IN A TROPICAL MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Fouling, or the unwanted accumulation of organisms, affects marine activities like shipping and desalination. The process begins with the formation of biofilms. This work investigates marine biofilm communities on antifouling materials. The study takes a first look at marine biofilms of tropical Southeast Asia, characterizing them using microscopy and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Tropical seasonality and surface type were strong drivers behind changes in bacterial composition. Bacterial biofilms were also shown to interact with other biofilm microorganisms (diatoms) and macrofouling organisms (tubeworms). Two novel materials with anti-biofilm properties were subsequently identified. This understanding of environmental biofilms and its interaction with other marine organisms assists to inform both antifouling material development and restoration ecology solutions