Settlement, growth and structure of three marine fouling communities along a vertical pollution

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University of Wollongong
Research Online
University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Thesis Collections
1981
Settlement, growth and structure of three marine
fouling communities along a vertical pollution
gradient in Port Kembla Harbour, N.S.W.
Philip Hazell
University of Wollongong
Recommended Citation
Hazell, Philip, Settlement, growth and structure of three marine fouling communities along a vertical pollution gradient in Port
Kembla Harbour, N.S.W., Bachelor of Science (Hons.) thesis, , University of Wollongong, 1981. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/905
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SETTLEMENT, GROWTH A!\TD STRUCTURE OF THREE MARINE
FOULING COMMUNITIES ALONG A VERTICAL POLLUTION
GRADIENT IN PORT KEMBLA HARBOUR, N.s.w.
by
Philip Hazell
A thesis submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements
for the degree B.Sc (Hons.) at the University of Wollongong,
November, 1981.
STATEMENT
I certify that this thesis does not incorporate
without acknowledgement any material previously submitted
for a degree _ or diploma in any University; and that to
the best of my knowledge and belief it does not contain
any material previously published or written by another
person, except where due reference is made in the text.
Philip A. Hazell
' .
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks must go in particular to two people.
Firstly, my supervisor Dr. T.R. Grant, for his dedicated
help in much of the unpleasant field work at the harbour
and his advice on many aspects of the experimental design
and analysis. Secondly, Peter Moran, for the free
consultation of his expertise in the field of marine
fouling ecology and his help with so many details of the
fouling organism taxonomy in Port Kembla Harbour.
It should also be acknowledged that Dr. R. Sandland
gave advice on the use of % frequency data in ANOVA
calculations.
\./
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS iii
. . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LIST OF TABLES v
. . . . . ...
LIST OF FIGURES vi
. . . . . . ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LIST OF PLATES vii
Chapter
. . .
1. I NTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW • • • • 1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 The Biology of Marine Fouling Organisms 2
1.J Marine Harbour Pollution and its . .
.
Effects on Marine Communities ••••• 14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .
1.4 Conclusions 21
2. INTRODUCTION TO THE THESIS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 23
...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
J. MATERIALS A!\TD METHODS 25
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.1 Study Area • • • • • • • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 25
2.2 Experimental Design Jl
. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. RESULTS 44
. . . . . . . . .. . . . . .• .• .• .•
4.1 Physica l Parameters 44
4.2 Larval Settlement • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 44
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.J Growth Studies 52
• • .. . . .• .• .• .• .• . •
4.4 Transference Experiment •••••• 58
. . . .
4.5 Community Structure •••••••.• .• .•. . . .• • • • • • 58
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS • • • • • • • • 73
5.1 Physical Parameters • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 73
. . . . . . ... . . . .
5.2 Growth • • • • • • . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . .• .• .• .• .• • • • • 73
5.3 Transference ••• • • • • 74
. . . . . .
5.4 Larval Settlement 75
•• •••••••• • • • • • •
5.5 Community Structure • • • • .• .• .• .• .• •. .• .• .• .• .• .• .• .• .• . • 79
5.6 Biomass ••••. • •• 83
. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . ..
5.7 Conclusions •••••••• 83
... . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . ..
85
SUM~.1.ARY
. . . . . . . . . .
APPENDICES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 87
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
REFERENCES 98
.
.
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1. Phylum classification of common sessile
fouling animals • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2
2. Heavy metal, cyanide, phenol and ammonia
concentrations at the study site - changes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ..
with depth JO
J. Salinity, pH and turbidity ranges during
April to August at the study site •••••••••••• 44
4. One factor ANOVA F-ratios for larval
.. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . .
settlement 49
5. Scheffe test F-ratios for larval settlement
comparisons between pairs of depths • • • • • • • • • • 50
6. Seasonal changes in larval settlement • • • • • • • • 51
7. Comparison of growth parameter means using
.. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . . .. .
the t-test
B. Two way ANOVA F-ratios from 14 week
community(% frequency data) ••••••••••••••••• 63
9. 14 week community scheffe test ratios for
comparison between pairs of depths • • • • • • • • • • • 66
%
10. Colonial ascidian areas on 14 week panels •• 67
11. Speci~s richness and identity on cage hoods •• 70
12. Results of biomass determination for 14
week communities • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 72
,V
..
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
1 Map of Port Kembla Harbour and .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
surrounding area 26
2 Idealized two layer water circulation
system in Port Kembla Harbour •••••••••••••• 28
3 Cage setup beneath Roll on - Roll off Berth
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .
pylons 35
4 a. Water temperature changes. b. Dissolved
oxygen changes at the three experimental
depths over the study period • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 45
5 Total number of larvae settling from each
species at the three study depths during
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .
the periods indicated 46
6 Growth of Hydroides elegans tube length • • • • 53
7 Growth of Ciona intestinalis body length ••• 54
8 Growth of Diplosoma ~· colony area •••••••• 55
9 The total number of alive organisms in
each species on control and transference
panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • 5 9
%
10 Average frequency of each species on
14 week panels ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 62
11 Species richness changes with time
• • • • • • • • •
vi
.
;
LIST OF PLATES
Plate Page
1 The Roll on - Roll of'f' Berth and
. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. ..
the inner harbour 32
.. . . . .. . .
2 Experimental cage on its side J4
. . . . . . . . . . .
3 Experimental cage plus hood 34
4 4 m control panel • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 60
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
5 4 m transference panel 60
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
6 8 m control panel 61
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7 8 m transference panel 61
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
8 2 m 14 week panel 64
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
9 4 m 14 week panel 64
.. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . ..
10 8 m 14 week panel 64
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . .. .
11 2 m hood 71
12 4 m hood • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 71
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . . .. .
13 8 m hood 71
:vii
1
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION AND L~ ITERATURE REVIEW
1.1 INTRODUCTION
This study is concerned with the biology and ecology of
a group of marine sessile invertebrates commonly referred to
as fouling organisms. The term 'fouling' was originally
used to describe the unwanted or harmful growth of plants
and animals attached to man-made structures such as ships'
hulls and harbour walls. 'Fouling' has acquired a very
broad meaning today. Many authors have used it in relation
to the general process of settlement of all marine sessile
invertebrates. However, the term 'fouling organism' defines
those particular marine organisms which are capable of
settling and growing on any man-made surface (Perkins, 1974;
Crippen and Reish, 1969). A fouling organism community
includes algae, bacteria, protozoa, free moving and sessile
invertebrate animal species. Animal species make up the
greatest proportion of total biomass in most fouling
communities. The present study investigates only sessile
fouling animals.
Most studies to date have been concerned with the economic
problems which fouling organisms create. Little attention has
been given to their possible use in water pollution studies
(Crippen and Reish, 1969). Experimental study of fouling
organisms usually involves submergence of a series of test
panels onto which larvae settle and grow. Test panels are a
convenient means of sampling changes in fouling organism
populations in relation to pollution. This chapter will deal
with the biology of marine fouling organisms and then with the