MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Edifício Madeira Tecnopolo, Piso 0, Caminho da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
OMM-Oceanic Observatory of Madeira, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação, Edifício Madeira Tecnopolo, Piso 0, Caminho da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Mar 16;21(6):2030. doi: 10.3390/ijms21062030.
Microbial biofilms can be key mediators for settlement of macrofoulers. The present study examines the coupled effects of microbial biofilms and local environmental conditions on the composition, structure and functioning of macrofouling assemblages. Settlement of invertebrates over a gradient of human-impacted sites was investigated on local biofilms and on biofilms developed in marine protected areas (MPAs). Special attention was given to the presence of non-indigenous species (NIS), a global problem that can cause important impacts on local assemblages. In general, the formation of macrofouling assemblages was influenced by the identity of the biofilm. However, these relationships varied across levels of anthropogenic pressure, possibly influenced by environmental conditions and the propagule pressure locally available. While the NIS seemed to be inhibited by the biofilm developed in the MPA, cf. seemed to be attracted by biofilm developed in the MPA only under mid anthropogenic pressure. The obtained information is critical for marine environmental management, urgently needed for the establishment of prevention and control mechanisms to minimize the settlement of NIS and mitigate their threats.
微生物生物膜可以成为定居大型污着生物的关键介质。本研究考察了微生物生物膜和局部环境条件对大型污着生物组合的组成、结构和功能的耦合影响。在受人类影响程度不同的地点的局部生物膜和海洋保护区（MPA）中发展的生物膜上，调查了无脊椎动物的定殖情况。特别关注了非本地物种（NIS）的存在，这是一个全球性问题，可能对当地组合产生重要影响。一般来说，大型污着生物组合的形成受到生物膜的影响。然而，这些关系在人为压力水平上有所不同，可能受到环境条件和局部可用繁殖体压力的影响。虽然 NIS 似乎受到 MPA 中生物膜的抑制，但 cf. 似乎只在中等人为压力下被 MPA 中生物膜吸引。所获得的信息对于海洋环境管理至关重要，迫切需要建立预防和控制机制，以最大限度地减少 NIS 的定居并减轻其威胁。
