Editing Biofouling (section)

==Biology==
Biofouling organisms are highly diverse, and extend far beyond the attachment of barnacles and seaweeds. According to some estimates, over 1,700 species comprising over 4,000 organisms are responsible for biofouling.<ref>{{Citation|last1=Almeida|first1=E|title=Marine paints: The particular case of antifouling paints|journal=Progress in Organic Coatings|year=2007|volume=59|issue=1|pages=2–20|doi=10.1016/j.porgcoat.2007.01.017|last2=Diamantino|first2=Teresa C.|last3=De Sousa|first3=Orlando}}</ref> Biofouling is divided into '''microfouling'''—[[biofilm]] formation and bacterial adhesion—and '''macrofouling'''—attachment of larger organisms. Due to the distinct chemistry and biology that determine what prevents them from settling, organisms are also classified as hard- or soft-fouling types. [[Calcareous]] (hard) fouling organisms include [[barnacle]]s, encrusting [[bryozoa]]ns, [[Mollusca|mollusks]] such as [[zebra mussel]]s, and [[polychaete]] and other [[Tube worm (body plan)|tube worms]]. Examples of non-calcareous (soft) fouling organisms are [[seaweed]], [[Hydroid (zoology)|hydroids]], algae, and biofilm "slime".<ref name=stanczak>{{citation |title=Biofouling: It's Not Just Barnacles Anymore |date=March 2004 |first=Marianne |last=Stanczak |url=http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/biofoul/overview.php |access-date=21 May 2012}}</ref> Together, these organisms form a [[fouling community]].

===Ecosystem formation===
[[File:Biofilm Formation.jpg|thumb|Biofouling initial process: (left) Coating of submerged "substratum" with polymers. (moving right) Bacterial attachment and [[extracellular polymeric substance]] (EPS) matrix formation.]]

Marine fouling is typically described as following four stages of ecosystem development. Within the first minute the [[Van der Waals force|van der Waals interaction]] causes the submerged surface to be covered with a conditioning film of organic polymers. In the next 24 hours, this layer allows the [[Bacterial adhesion in aquatic system|process of bacterial adhesion]] to occur, with both diatoms and bacteria (e.g. ''[[Vibrio alginolyticus]]'', ''[[Pseudomonas putrefaciens]]'') attaching, initiating the formation of a [[biofilm]]. By the end of the first week, the rich nutrients and ease of attachment into the biofilm allow secondary colonizers of spores of macroalgae (e.g. ''[[Enteromorpha intestinalis]]'', ''[[Ulothrix]]'') and protozoans (e.g. ''[[Vorticella]]'', ''Zoothamnium'' sp.) to attach themselves. Within two to three weeks, the tertiary colonizers—the macrofoulers—have attached. These include [[tunicates]], mollusks, and [[Sessility (zoology)|sessile]] [[cnidarians]].<ref name="antifouling_review">{{cite journal |last1=Yebra |first1=Diego Meseguer |last2=Kiil |first2=Søren |last3=Dam-Johansen |first3=Kim |title=Antifouling technology—past, present and future steps towards efficient and environmentally friendly antifouling coatings |journal=Progress in Organic Coatings |date=July 2004 |volume=50 |issue=2 |pages=75–104 |doi=10.1016/j.porgcoat.2003.06.001 }}</ref>