https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0971-7588
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Abstract
Past studies of Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation as a marine antifoulant have focused on repeated doses. However, single or very low frequency exposures of UV-C could create more plausible applications for certain marine structures. The objective of the study reported here was to apply a single treatment of UV-C radiation to an early stage marine biofouling community to observe subsequent effects on biofouling development. Biofouling formed over a 2-week field immersion received UV-C treatments of 0 (control), 4, 20, or 120 min, and subsequent progression was then monitored weekly for 16 weeks. Analysis of acute effects and later macrofouling development suggested direct toxicity of UV-C illumination to invertebrate recruits caused reduction of subsequent biofouling (compared to controls) that persisted for up to 16 weeks following the longest UV-C treatment. Thus, UV-C treatments spaced by days or even weeks could be an option for some applications of UV-C radiation as an antifoulant.
Author contributions
The study was designed by RCW, KP, ALT and ATH, data was collected by KP, ALT, and ATH, analysis was completed by KP, ALT, ATH, ERW, KHC and RCW, the manuscript was drafted by KP and RCW, and revised by KP, ATH, KHC, ETW, and RCW.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada (Discovery Grant RGPIN-2020-05894 to RCW; Undergraduate Science Research Award to ALT) and the Colleges and Institutes Canada Career Launcher Internship program for funding support, and the Strait of Canso Yacht Club for the use of their facilities.
Disclosure statement
The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.