Marine Biology

Introduction

 

The term "fouling" is commonly employed to distinguish the assemblages of animals and plants which grow on attached forms occurring on rocks, stones, other natural objects and artificial structures. Frequently the use of this term  is limited  only to the situations in which the results of the growth of these organisms are considered harmful. Fouling is  mainly the  biological process  of attachment (bio-fouling)  on  the substratum in the marine environment and hence the foulers are surface dwelling organisms .

      Marine bio-fouling is the undesirable accretion of biological organisms such as bacteria, algae, plant and animal colonies on the surfaces of the man made  structures  immersed in sea-water. There are about 4,000 species represented in the fouling community worldwide  and these marine bio-fouling communities will begin to grow on substrates immediately upon immersion.

Marine bio-fouiling is known to affect boat hulls, harbour installations and piers as well as underwater engineering structures such as those used in the oil and gas industry. The group of organisms that contribute to marine bio-fouling include seaweeds, bivalves and crustaceans  (barnacles). Marine bio-fouiling can be divided into two groups: microfouling and macrofouling.