Seasonal Variability of Biofouling Community Structure in the Gulf of Mannar, Southeast Coast of India: A Multivariate Approach

• Published in: Journal of Ocean University of China 2023-06, Vol.22 (3), p.766-776
• Main Authors: Marimuthu, Nithyanandam, Wilson, James Jerald, Kumaraguru, Arumugam Kuppuswamy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biofouling; Community structure; Density; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Fouling; Fouling organisms; Marine crustaceans; Meteorology; Multivariate analysis; Oceanography; Panels; Seasonal variation; Seasonal variations; Species diversity; Substrata
• ISSN: 1672-5182; 1993-5021; 1672-5174
• DOI: 10.1007/s11802-023-5353-7

In this research, an Underwater Biofouling Panel (UWBFP) system was erected for the qualitative and quantitative estimation of macro fouling organisms in the Gulf of Mannar. Forty-four biofoulers were identified from four types of selected test panels. Among these biofoulers, Amphibalanus amphitrite (Darwin, 1854) was the dominant one. The concrete panel encouraged the highest barnacle density compared to the other panels. Three series of test panels were used to assess the seasonal density of biofouling communities. The overall variation in barnacle count in the seaward and shoreward sides of all these three series were tested. They were found to be significantly different from each other. The greater variations in the barnacle density observed in this study in A-series of test panels could be due to the lack of or absence of other foulers to compete within the fortnight. The Shannon-Wiener species diversity index showed the highest diversity in wood substratum among the three series with greater accumulation of different types of fouling organisms. Multivariate analyses were also performed to understand the seasonal variation as well as the settlement pattern on the different directions of test panels based on validated data. PCA showed a strong variability (PC1 between 70.8% and 98.6% variance) between the directions of the panels in connection with barnacle density. The shade plot and CAP analysis segregated the short-term A-series test panels from the long-term (B- and C-series) test panels. Hence, the output was helpful in understanding the recruitment status of various faunal resources involved in the biofouling processes.