Abstract
The fouling of hard substrates by zebra mussels (Dreissena sp.) in freshwater ecosystems is a persistent problem which calls for antifouling treatments being fully efficient, long-lasting, and environmentally safe. The present study assessed the potential toxicological impact and the effectiveness of an elastomer-based coating containing salts that would make surfaces repulsive to zebra mussel attachment. Laboratory testing using standard analytical methods for water and wastewater, and a battery of six bioassays confirmed that the leachates from the coating exhibited no toxic response suggesting its safety to the receiving environment. In situ experiments using multi-plate collectors indicated that biofouling by zebra mussels and sponges on coated surfaces was effectively reduced by up to 97% over one growing season. Effectiveness of the coating was slightly less (82%) during the second growing season. Results suggested that the repulsive effect would be due to the presence of salts within the elastomer-based coating affecting both zebra mussels and other freshwater organisms. Saltwater experiments indicated that the coating was totally ineffective to prevent biofouling in marine environments. In addition of being environmentally safe to use, results suggested that the coating can be an effective antifouling product for submerged structures in freshwater environments.
Highlights
The introduction of zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) in North America has resulted in the biofouling of underwater hard substrates which led to important socio-economical and environmental consequences (Pimentel et al, 2005) as well as major impacts to freshwater biodiversity, including the decline of native benthic species in the Great Lakes (Van Appledorn & Bach, 2007), the loss of water column primary production (Claudi & Mackie, 1994; Brines et al, 2007) and the alteration of food web structure in lacustrine environments (Karatayev et al, 2002)
The results are expressed in toxic units (TU), which correspond to the inverse of the dilution factor required to reduce potent toxicity at the selected endpoint concentration
The results of the present study clearly showed that the elastomer-based coating can be a very useful antifouling coating against zebra mussels for submerged fixed structures in confined freshwater environments such as docks and pontoons in marinas
Summary
The introduction of zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) in North America has resulted in the biofouling of underwater hard substrates which led to important socio-economical and environmental consequences (Pimentel et al, 2005) as well as major impacts to freshwater biodiversity, including the decline of native benthic species in the Great Lakes (Van Appledorn & Bach, 2007), the loss of water column primary production (Claudi & Mackie, 1994; Brines et al, 2007) and the alteration of food web structure in lacustrine environments (Karatayev et al, 2002). Antifouling solutions based on the surface properties of the substrate to control aquatic fouling are usually considered to be benign to the environment because no chemical or material is released into the environment These coatings rely on surface physico-chemical and material characteristics to deter organisms to attach or to reduce their attachment strength. Antifouling solutions based on surface properties have proven to inhibit biofouling, they are still not widely applied to vessels due to practical shortcomings (Webster & Chisholm, 2010; Lewis, 2009) Another alternative technology are the non-leaching active coatings, where the chemicals are bounded to a surface and exert a repulsive effect to organisms that get in contact with the surface, but without the chemical being released into the surrounding environment (Lewis, 2009). The effects of substrate colour and the potential competitive interaction of zebra mussels with sponges were analyzed
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