Alterations to the relative species-abundance of ascidians and barnacles in a fouling community due to screens

Abstract

The species composition and abundance of a community of fouling organisms can be altered by shielding the surface to be settled with fibreglass screen of 1.0 mm mesh size. Settlement and survival of two barnacle species is nearly precluded, while that of the ascidians Pyura praeputialis, Styela plicata, S. pedata and Diplosoma listerianum and of several bryozoan species is greatly enhanced. S. pedata was found to survive almost exclusively on screened plate surfaces.