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Biofouling in Marine Contexts
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1
Question
What is biofouling in maritime contexts?
Answer
Unwanted accumulation of organisms on submerged surfaces.
2
Question
Which historical methods were used to protect wooden ships from biofouling?
Answer
Pitch and tar coatings.
3
Question
Name the four stages of biofouling as described in the material.
Answer
Conditioning film formation, Attachment (microfouling & biofilm), Colonisation (macrofouling), Growth.
4
Question
What constitutes the conditioning film in Stage 1?
Answer
Organic molecules like proteins and polysaccharides.
5
Question
What organisms dominate the attachment phase (Stage 2) of biofouling?
Answer
Bacteria and diatoms.
6
Question
What substance do pioneer organisms secrete to form a biofilm?
Answer
Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS).
7
Question
What signaling process enhances biofilm resilience during attachment?
Answer
Quorum sensing.
8
Question
Which organisms are involved in macrofouling during Stage 3?
Answer
Barnacles, mussels, and algae.
9
Question
How does the mature slime layer affect the hull surface?
Answer
Increases surface roughness and weight.
10
Question
Describe the practical importance of biofouling in economic terms.
Answer
Increases fuel consumption and maintenance costs, impacting profits.
11
Question
What is the estimated impact of hydrodynamic drag on fuel use due to biofouling?
Answer
Around 40% increased fuel consumption.
12
Question
What broader environmental consequence is linked to biofouling-driven fuel use?
Answer
Higher greenhouse gas emissions.
13
Question
What are two broad physical methods to combat biofouling?
Answer
Manual cleaning and foul-release coatings.
14
Question
What is a primary advantage of foul-release coatings?
Answer
They allow fouling to be shed due to low adhesion.
15
Question
What is a key drawback of physical methods like cleaning?
Answer
Labor-intensive and can damage coatings.
16
Question
What is a biocidal coating in anti-fouling strategies?
Answer
A chemical coating that leaches toxic substances to deter organisms.
17
Question
What environmental risk is associated with biocidal coatings?
Answer
Release of toxic substances harming non-target organisms.
18
Question
Name a non-toxic, nature-inspired coating approach mentioned.
Answer
Biomimetic coatings.
19
Question
What is the principle behind surface micro-topography in antifouling?
Answer
Riblet-like textures reduce microorganism attachment.
20
Question
Which emerging technology uses ultrasonic waves to deter fouling?
Answer
Ultrasonic antifouling.
21
Question
What is the goal of ultrasonics in antifouling?
Answer
Prevent attachment and reduce maintenance.
22
Question
What are nanocoatings intended to do in antifouling strategies?
Answer
Use nanoparticles to create ROS and kill microbes at surface.
23
Question
Which regulation-related event occurred in 2008 in the biofouling field?
Answer
Global ban on Tributyltin (TBT).
24
Question
What was a major consequence of the TBT ban noted in the material?
Answer
Persistent contamination of marine ecosystems; regulatory shift.
25
Question
What notable fuel-efficiency result is reported for a biocide-free foul-release coating?
Answer
King David showed an 11.5% reduction in fuel consumption.
26
Question
What regulatory trend is highlighted for 2025 onward in the case studies?
Answer
Tighter biofouling regulations and sustainability focus.
27
Question
What is a primary advantage of copper-based compounds as antifoulants post-TBT ban?
Answer
Broad effectiveness against fouling organisms.
28
Question
What is a major environmental concern with copper antifouling?
Answer
Copper toxicity and accumulation in marine ecosystems.
29
Question
What is the concept of 'bioprospecting' in antifouling contexts?
Answer
Searching marine organisms for natural antifouling compounds.
30
Question
What is a key claim of natural product antifoulants (NPAs)?
Answer
Biodegradable and less toxic to marine life.