Effects of two marinas on the composition of fouling assemblages

Abstract

The composition of fouling assemblages was surveyed inside and near two fully enclosed marinas using settlement plates.The location of a plate, inside or outside the marina, influenced the abundances of four functional groups of fouling organisms (solitary ascidians, arboresent bryozoans, encrusting bryozoans and colonial ascidians). Transplantation of mature assemblages revealed that reduction in the abundance of arborescent bryozoans inside marinas might be explained by increased growth and recruitment of these bryozoans outside the marina. Surveys of settlement revealed decreased recruitment of encrusting bryozoans inside the marinas, a results consistent with patterns of adult abundance...