A SCREENING METHOD FOR ANTIFOULING SUBSTANCES USING SPORES OF THE FOULING MACROALGA ULVA-CONGLOBATA KJELLMAN

Fouling macroalgae cause serious problems by settling on ships' hulls, power plant cooling systems, aquaculture systems, and other marine in frastructure. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to find antifouling substances without toxicity or with lower toxicity than th at of toxic agents such as TBTO [bis-(n-tributyltin)-oxide]. For this purpose, an as say for antifouling substances is important. First, the effects of environmental factors on attachment and germination of spo res of the fouling macroalga Ulva conglobata were examined. The optimu m conditions for attachment and germination of spores were: temperatur e, 20 similar to 25 degrees C; salinity, 33; light intensity, 3000 Ix under long-day regimen. Under such conditions, a new and efficient ass ay method for antifouling substances against the attachment of fouling macroalgae was developed. Antifouling activity was statistically exam ined.