Abstract

The literature on marine bio-fouling (MBF) in Chile was revised and complemented with field data from the Chacao channel (Chiloe), identifying both the bio-fouling species associated with man-made structures (MMS) in the intertidal zone and species of algae, sessile and hemi-sessile invertebrates, present on natural substrata in the same area. In addition, to quantify settlement potential of the MBFA, artificial substrate plates (AS) were deployed in inter-and sub-tidal areas of the Chacao channel. The review identified 211 species, 85% of which were marine invertebrates and 15% macroalgae. The most representative taxa were arthropods, molluscs, annelids, which contributed 58% of the species of the Chilean MBF. The field data associated with MBF and with intertidal substrates indicated 133 species as potential components of the Chacao channel's MBF. On natural substrata and in decreasing order of abundance were recorded gastropod molluscs, crustaceans and seaweed. The most abundant species on MMS were molluscs, seaweeds and crustaceans. The species that settled on AS deployed in the intertidal zone were mussels, barnacles and macroalgae. In the subtidal zone the most abundant groups were macroalgae spores and bryozoans. Based on the literature review, the fished giant barnacle Austromegabalanus psittacus, the ascidian Pyura chilensis and the mussel Mytilus chilensis appear to be highly frequent and dominant species on subtidal natural hard-bottom. Because of their biological and ecological characteristics, these species have high degree of potential for colonising MMS deployed in the subtidal zone of the Chacao channel.