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ICES Journal of Marine Science: Journal du Conseil 2006 63(4):637-649; doi:10.1016/j.icesjms.2005.12.007
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© 2006 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

The influence of caged mariculture on the early development of sublittoral fouling communities: a pan-European study

E.J. Cooka,*, K.D. Blacka, M.D.J. Sayera, C.J. Cromeya, D.L. Angelb, E. Spanierb, A. Tsemelb, T. Katzc, N. Edenc, I. Karakassisd, M. Tsapakise, E.T. Apostolakie and A. Malejf

a Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory Oban PA37 1QA, Scotland, UK
b The Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies and Department for Maritime Civilizations, University of Haifa Haifa 31905, Israel
c The Inter-University Institute of Eilat PO Box 469, Eilat 88103, Israel
d Biology Department, University of Crete Iraklion 71409, Greece
e Hellenic Centre for Marine Research PO Box 2214, Iraklion 71003, Greece
f Marine Biological Station Piran, National Institute of Biology 6330 Piran, Slovenia

*Correspondence to E. J. Cook: tel: +44 1631 559000; fax: +44 1631 559001. e-mail: ejc{at}sams.ac.uk.

The development of fouling communities was assessed to investigate the influence of caged mariculture on sublittoral epibiota. Artificial structures were deployed within 10 m of caged mariculture and at a "reference" location between 150 and 500 m of the study site at four coastal locations (Oban, Scotland; Sitia, Crete; Piran, Slovenia; and Eilat, Israel). The fouling community on the artificial structures was measured both quantitatively and qualitatively bi-monthly between June 2001 and December 2001. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to compare community structure between the study sites and locations. Artificial structures deployed at the mariculture site supported a higher epibiotic biomass than at the reference site at Oban and Eilat. Community composition was significantly different between the mariculture and reference site at Eilat. The biological succession on the structures changed from an autotrophic to a heterotrophic mode over the experimental period at all locations with the exception of Oban, where negligible quantities of macroalgae were observed on the structures. Differences in community biomass and succession observed between artificial structures deployed at mariculture and reference sites, particularly in oligotrophic environments, may be caused by enhanced larval settlement and an elevated supply of particulate material and dissolved nutrients to structures adjacent to the fish cages.

Keywords: artificial substrata, colonization, fouling communities, geographical variation, mariculture, nutrient enrichment, settlement

Received 25 January 2005; accepted 5 December 2005.


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