Correlative relationship between marine microfouling and macrofouling

Positive correlations between Mytilus edulis postlarvae abundance and the abundance of diatoms, heterotrophic flagellates and bacteria occurring on neutral, fouling stimulating, repellent and narcotizing experimental coatings exposed at the White Sea were observed. A positive correlation between heterotrophic flagellates abundance and bacteria abundance on the coatings were discovered for the first time. Mass settlement of M. edulis larvae on experimental coatings was predominantly controlled by diatoms and, to a lesser degree, by the bacteria from fouling. -from English summary