How to identify biofouling species in marine and freshwater

• Published in: Biofouling (Chur, Switzerland) Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 130 - 152
• Main Authors: Hong, Heting, Deng, Aijuan, Tang, Yang, Liu, Zhixiong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 07.02.2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystems; Artificial Intelligence; Biofilms; Biofouling; Biofouling - prevention & control; biofouling challenges; biofouling formation; Biofouling identification; Biology; Chemical analysis; Community involvement; Ecosystem; Fouling; Freshwater; freshwater biofouling; Freshwater ecosystems; Inland water environment; marine biofouling; Marine ecosystems; Microscopy; Molecular biology; Operating costs; Photography; Remote sensing; Reviews; State-of-the-art reviews; Strategic management; marine biofouling; freshwater biofouling; Biofouling identification; biofouling challenges; biofouling formation
• ISSN: 0892-7014; 1029-2454
• DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2024.2324008

The identification and management of biofouling remain pressing challenges in marine and freshwater ecosystems, with significant implications for environmental sustainability and industrial operations. This comprehensive review synthesizes the current state-of-the-art in biofouling identification technologies, examining eight prominent methodologies: Microscopy Examination, Molecular Biology, Remote Sensing, Community Involvement, Ecological Methods, Artificial Intelligence, Chemical Analysis, and Macro Photography. Each method is evaluated for its respective advantages and disadvantages, considering factors such as precision, scalability, cost, and data quality. Furthermore, the review identifies current obstacles that inhibit the optimal utilization of these technologies, ranging from technical limitations and high operational costs to issues of data inconsistency and subjectivity. Finally, the review posits a future outlook, advocating for the development of integrated, standardized systems that amalgamate the strengths of individual approaches. Such advancement will pave the way for more effective and sustainable strategies for biofouling identification and management.