Using encrusting bryozoan adhesion to evaluate the efficacy of fouling-release marine coatings

Abstract

Biofouling communities are spatiotemporally diverse, underscoring the need to assess fouling-release (FR) coating performance against common biofouling taxa at multiple field sites. Adhesion strength assessments of FR coatings incorporate few taxa into standardized protocols. This study tested the feasibility of incorporating existing ASTM barnacle protocols on tubeworms and encrusting bryozoans (EB). Additionally, trends in adhesion strength among these taxa were compared at two field sites. EB adhesion at both field sites showed consistent results and adhesion strength followed the same trend: tubeworms > barnacles >EB. Testing EB adhesion was feasible and enhanced assessments of FR coatings by increasing the diversity of assessed taxa.

Keywords:

• Adhesion strength
• biofouling
• bryozoans
• fouling-release coatings

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the members of the Center for Corrosion and Biofouling Control at FIT and the DEW Lab at Cal Poly for their assistance in the field and laboratory. Lenora Brewer was an invaluable mentor and colleague. Thank you to the anonymous reviewers for feedback that greatly improved this publication.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Office of Naval Research for funding this work (award numbers N000141613208 and N000141613123).