• Teixeira Santos, R.
• Mergulhão, Fj
• Gomes, Lc

Abstract

The undesirable attachment of fouling organisms to submerged surfaces occurs spontaneously in marine ecosystems and may have serious economic and environmental implications. Cyanobacteria are one of the most dominant microfoulers, colonizing different surfaces at diverse locations all over the world. Several factors have been indicated as modulators of marine biofilm development, including hydrodynamic conditions and surface properties, which should be considered for a better knowledge of the dynamics of biofilm formation and the development of more efficient and eco-friendly antifouling marine coatings. The negative impact of marine biofouling has been stressing the need to develop novel surfaces aiming to control biofilm formation by microfouling organisms since they are involved in the initial colonization stage. Likewise, more accurate and easier to perform tests are desirable to screen marine coatings, avoiding, at the first stage, extensive laboratory assays and field trials. In this chapter, the importance of marine biofouling and the role of coccoid cyanobacteria in this process are highlighted. Furthermore, the factors governing biofouling are discussed as this knowledge is being used to develop new antifouling strategies and introduce new procedures to evaluate the attachment of microfoulers. © 2021 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• surface