Neurotransmitter blockers as antifoulants against planktonic larvae of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite and the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Abstract

Since neurotransmitters influence larval settlement and metamorphosis in many species of sessile marine organisms, neurotransmitter blockers were tested as potential antifouling agents against barnacles and mussels. The serotonin uptake blockers amitriptyline and imipramine inhibited attachment of larvae of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite in a dose‐dependent manner in in vitro assays using polyethylene ropes as the settlement substratum. The α‐adrenergic blocker phentolamine inhibited attachment of both B. amphitrite cyprids and pediveligers of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Although inhibiting attachment, these three compounds significantly induced cyprid metamorphosis into juveniles. The results suggest that these neurotransmitter blockers may find application as a new type of antifoulant against planktonic larvae of both barnacles and mussels.

Key words:

• neurotransmitter blockers
• antifoulants
• barnacle
• mussel

Notes

Corresponding author; fax: [phone]; e‐mail: [email protected] Present address: Maruha Corporation, Central Research Institute, 16–2 Wadai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300–4295, Japan