Marine Biology

Colour

Colour:The colour of the substratum also influences the settlement of larvae of foulers. This is correlated among other things, with the amount of radiant energy absorbed or reflected by the substratum. Many of the fouling organisms are affected by light. The majority occurs most plentifully on shaded, or dark coloured, surfaces. This is true of mussels, hydroids, and many of the algae. The green algae, such as “Enteromorpha”, thrive best in the light. In general, the lighter shades of protective coatings on submerged materials, the whites and light grays and yellow, are somewhat less subjected to fouling than the darker shades with all other factors being equal..