THE ROLE OF SLIME FILM IN THE ATTACHMENT OF FOULING ORGANISMS

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Abstract
Laboratory expts. using larvae of a bryozoan, Bugula neritina, were performed to determine the effect of slime film on attachment of fouling organisms. In some tests, larvae were offered only film-coated or only clean test panels for attachment; in others, they were given an equal choice of settling on filmed or clean surfaces. Four series of plastic copper paints with non-toxic controls were tested, each series differing from the others in matrix composition and each having graded Cu content. Ground glass panels were used as an additional control. Slime films coating non-toxic substrates facilitate but are not prerequisite to the attachment of Bugula larvae. On toxic paints, slime films may decrease, increase or have no apparent effect on surface toxicity, which is detd. primarily by the rate of diffusion (leaching rate) of toxic ions from the paint. Few larvae are able to attach to surfaces having high Cu leaching rates whether slime film is present or not. Slime films on less toxic surfaces generally, but not always, make them somewhat less repellent to larvae, probably by decreasing their leaching rate. An unexplained association between the matrix composition of paints and the effect of their slime films on larval attachment is demonstrated. Of those tested, only hot-plastic copper paints containing water-white rosin as the sole resinous ingredient produce slime films that sometimes improve the repellent action of surfaces.

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