A study of the natural antifouling mechanisms of the green musselPerna viridisL. (Mytilidae)

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Abstract
The green mussel Perna viridis L. (Mytilidae) is commonly found on hard substrata in the littoral zone of the upper Gulf of Thailand. Mussels appeared to be less densely colonized by epibionts than other artificial and natural hard substrata. The number of epibionts (bacteria, diatoms, protozoa, fungi, macroorganisms) on Perna viridis shells and their potential defence mechanisms were studied. The number of epibionts on isolated mussels and those in patches were compared. Densities of protozoa and macrofauna were much higher on isolated specimens than on aggregated (patch forming) mussels. Among possible antifouling mechanisms which were studied sloughing, shell surface tension and surface‐pH proved to be non effective in preventing fouling. Toxicity assays of shell extracts showed limited activity against bacteria and fungi. Grazing by two different gastropod species (Planaxis sulcatus, Thais sp.) reduced the number of protozoa and macroorganisms on isolated and aggregated mussels. Diatoms were restricted on isolated shells by P. sulcatus. The filtration activity of aggregated mussels was found to be the major factor contributing to the different densities of protozoa and macrofauna on aggregated and isolated mussels.