Biodeterioration of wood in estuarine ecosystem of Goa

Abstract

An assessment of macrofouling and wood boring community at different localities of Zuari and Mandovi estuaries of Goa carried out. Wood panels of Mangifera indica of 10 x 15 x 2.5 cm size were exposed in this investigation. The panels were retrieved at an interval of 1 and 4 month. The macrofouling community mainly comprised sessile barnacles, bryzoans, mussels. oysters and tunicates and the wood boring community comprised of Martesia striata, Nausitora hedleyi and Lyrodus pedicellatus. The wood boring community was dominated by Martesia striata in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons and by L. pedicellatus in monsoon. The macrofouling and wood boring communities which mainly contributes in biodeterioration of wood is discussed in this paper