Marine Biology

Micro-fouling Organisms

Micro-fouling organisms are primarily bacterial communities  and  they quickly colonise any substrate placed in seawater. They form part of a slimy  mucus coating commonly referred to as a bio-film or primary film. Bio-films are a considerable nuisance, accumulating in thicknesses sufficient to obscure marine surfaces and adding considerably to the difficulties of operating undersea. They also provide both a food source and a convenient interface to which the larger organisms, the macro-foulers  can make their foothold or get attached. Within an hour  of submersion of objects under seawater, the forms such as bacteria, diatoms and cyanobacteria can colonise  the surfaces  of the objects  by secreting sticky substances and make the substratum more amenable to the larger fouling organisms to get attached over the substratum.