Pioneer marine biofilms on artificial surfaces including antifouling coatings immersed in two contrasting French Mediterranean coast sites

• Published in: Biofouling (Chur, Switzerland) Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 453 - 463
• Main Authors: Briand, Jean-François, Djeridi, Ikram, Jamet, Dominique, Coupé, Stéphane, Bressy, Christine, Molmeret, Maëlle, Le Berre, Brigitte, Rimet, Frédéric, Bouchez, Agnès, Blache, Yves
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.05.2012
• Subjects: antifouling paint; bacteria; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - growth & development; Biofilms - growth & development; biofouling; Biofouling - prevention & control; DGGE; diatoms; Diatoms - classification; Diatoms - genetics; Diatoms - growth & development; diversity; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Ecosystem; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; France; Mediterranean Sea; microbial communities; Paint - microbiology; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Polystyrenes; Polytetrafluoroethylene; Seawater - microbiology; Surface Properties; France; Mediterranean Sea
• ISSN: 0892-7014; 1029-2454
• DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2012.688957

Marine biofilm communities that developed on artificial substrata were investigated using molecular and microscopic approaches. Polystyrene, Teflon® and four antifouling (AF) paints were immersed for 2 weeks at two contrasting sites near Toulon on the French Mediterranean coast (Toulon military harbour and the natural protected area of Porquerolles Island). Biofilms comprising bacteria and diatoms were detected on all the coatings. The population structure as well as the densities of the microorganisms differed in terms of both sites and coatings. Lower fouling densities were observed at Porquerolles Island compared to Toulon harbour. All bacterial communities (analysed by PCR-DGGE) showed related structure, controlled both by the sites and the type of substrata. Pioneer microalgal communities were dominated by the same two diatom species, viz. Licmophora gracilis and Cylindrotheca closterium, at both sites, irrespective of the substrata involved. However, the density of diatoms followed the same trend at both sites with a significant effect of all the AF coatings compared to Teflon and polystyrene.