Scanning electron microscope observations of marine microorganisms on surfaces coated with antifouling paints

Abstract

Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe micro­ biological primary fouling of glass slides and slides coated with U. S. Navy antifouling paints exposed in Monterey harbor. Four paints were tested, three of which contained copper or tin as their toxic ingredient and one which used a chlorinated pesticide, an organic compound, as the anti-fouling ingredient. Samples removed at regular intervals, of days up to several weeks, showed that bacterial slimes populated the glass and heavy-metal based paints early and in great numbers throughout the study, but the surfaces painted with the organic compound toxicant were free of all microfouling organisms. A succession of periphytic microorganisms was observed on glass and the heavy-metal based painted surfaces which began with bacteria followed by diatoms and later by protozoans.