Is the mussel test a good indicator of antifouling activity? A comparison between laboratory and field assays.
Current antifouling technologies rely on metal-based paints, but due to their toxicity, an expected worldwide ban of organotin-containing paints is now prompting the quest for safe and effective alternatives. One of these is antifouling coatings whose active components are naturally occurring compounds in marine organisms. A number of laboratory bioassays has been designed to search for antifouling compounds. However, there is no evidence to date that these assays provide results reproducible through ecologically realistic field experiments. Natural concentrations of the extracts from the Brazilian seaweeds Laurencia obtusa and Stypopodium zonale were tested in the laboratory through the 'mussel test' and in the field through the 'phytagel method' in order to compare the efficiency of these methods in assessing antifouling activity. L. obtusa extract significantly inhibited fouling in both the laboratory and field assays, while S. zonale stimulated fouling in both assays. Major compounds from the extracts were identified. The findings suggest that the 'mussel test' is a reliable time and cost-saving screening method for antifouling substances, although field assays are more sensitive for detection of their activity spectrum.
Da Gama
Bernardo A
BA
Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia Vegetal, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, IIha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil. bapgama@ig.com.br
Pereira
Renato C
RC
Soares
Angélica R
AR
Teixeira
Valéria L
VL
Yoneshigue-Valentin
Yocie
Y
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil; D044722:Laurencia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000459:Phaeophyceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification
D010936:Plant Extracts