Abundance of bacterial and diatom fouling on various surfaces

Abstract

Abundance of bacterial and diatom fouling on aluminium, fibreglass and stainless steel were studied from Dona Paula waters of the Zuari Estuary. Both these forms were reversibly attached in large numbers to surfaces during the initial 24 hr of exposure and thereafter an irreversible attachment was observed until the end of sampling (144 hr). Nitzschia sp was found to be most abundant on surfaces as well as in the subsurface waters. The other forms present included Navicula sp, Grammatophora sp, Coscinodiscus sp, Fragilaria sp, Liemophora sp, Chaetoceros sp and Rhizoselenia sp. Pennate forms were more dominant as compared to the centrales. The mucilaginous fibrillar material entrapping bacteria and diatoms formed a two-tiered layer on study surfaces. Significant correlation existed between the two forms on all the surfaces for the study area