Ecology of marine fouling organisms at eastern Johore Strait

Abstract

Investigated the seasonal ecology of biofouling organisms such as green mussel Perna viridis, the dominant fouling species in the Eastern Johore Straits at the Senoko Power Station. Two main spawning peaks for the green mussel occurred during the intermonsoon months of November and April. These peaks were also correlated with the bimodal patterns for salinity, dissolved oxygen, bivalve veliger larval density and total plankton biomass of the E Johore Strait water. Succession patterns were similar during the two monsoon seasons, but the rate of fouling was probably greater during the SW moonsoon months. Control or reduction of biofouling should take into account the seasonal fluctuations and spawning of the fouling organisms. -from Authors