Marine biofilms as mediators of colonization by marine macroorganisms: implications for antifouling and aquaculture.
In the marine environment, biofilms on submerged surfaces can promote or discourage the settlement of invertebrate larvae and macroalgal spores. The settlement-mediating effects of biofilms are believed to involve a variety of biofilm attributes including surface chemistry, micro-topography, and a wide range of microbial products from small-molecule metabolites to high-molecular weight extracellular polymers. The settled organisms in turn can modify microbial species composition of biofilms and thus change the biofilm properties and dynamics. A better understanding of biofilm dynamics and chemical signals released and/or stored by biofilms will facilitate the development of antifouling and mariculture technologies. This review provides a brief account of 1) existing knowledge of marine biofilms that are relevant to settlement mediation, 2) biotechnological application of biofilms with respect to developing non-toxic antifouling technologies and improving the operation of aquaculture facilities, and 3) challenges and future directions for advancing our understanding of settlement-mediating functions of biofilms and for applying this knowledge to real-life situations.
Qian
P-Y
PY
Department of Biology and Coastal Marine Lab, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong. boqianpy@ust.hk
Lau
S C K
SC
Dahms
H-U
HU
Dobretsov
S
S
Harder
T
T
D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D018441:Biofilms; D017753:Ecosystem; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D008386:Marine Biology / Q000639:trends; D013170:Spores / Q000502:physiology