Becker, K., Hormchong, T. and Wahl, Martin (2000) Relevance of crustacean carapace wettability for fouling. Hydrobiologia, 426 . pp. 193-201. DOI 10.1023/A:1003918512565.

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Abstract

Carapace wettability and density of fouling organisms (bacteria, diatoms, protozoa, fungi, macro-organisms) were investigated for 45 crustacean species (Hoplocarida, Decapoda) from 15 families in the Gulf of Thailand. The results show that crustaceans can create and maintain characteristic carapace wettabilities. About 21 species (47 %) possess highly wettable carapaces with contact angles below 20 degrees. Contact angles between 20 degrees and 40 degrees were recorded for four species (2%), angles between 40 degrees and 60 degrees for eight species (4%) and from 60 degrees to 70 degrees for 11 (24%) species. One species, Alpheus euphrosyne (Alpheidae, Decapoda), exhibited an extremely low surface wettability (contact angle: 91 degrees). Densities of colonisers and contact angles did not correlate. Very low wettability by water (theta > 90 degrees) may only contribute little to fouling reduction in A. euphrosyne which showed the most hydrophobic carapace surface and was colonised by the lowest numbers of bacteria among all species and no other colonisers at all. We conclude that surface wettability is of little relevance for antifouling defence in crustaceans.

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