Is fouling contagious?

[MapisM]

A neighbour boat made me thinking...

 

[Momac]

It could well be.

 

[Bouba]

I think you’re right! It’s definitely one of those three

 

[BruceK]

Absolutely, especially barnacles. Who hasn't on lift out found them in clumps rather than a random dispersion across the hull? Once one settles it seems to start it's own little breeding colony. We have two large boats on our floating pontoon that never move and seldom come out. I seem to have had more than my fair share of barnacles as a result. I'm a believer!

 

[rafiki_]

I think it unlikely. I don’t think the critters that foul have much intelligence. It depends what is in the water, , temperature and sunlight.

 

[Portofino]

I think it unlikely. I don’t think the critters that foul have much intelligence. It depends what is in the water, , temperature and sunlight.

What you find is Darwinism at its best . The successful ones will secret something in the water that attracts the loose floating juveniles .
So if one or more find a survivable habit ---- others latch on .

 

[rafiki_]

What you find is Darwinism at its best . The successful ones will secret something in the water that attracts the loose floating juveniles .
So if one or more find a survivable habit ---- others latch on .

Really?

 

[BruceK]

Really?

One does have to wonder why they form in clumps rather than randomly spread out.

 

[skipper681]

One does have to wonder why they form in clumps rather than randomly spread out.

A bit like genital warts then.

 

[rafiki_]

One does have to wonder why they form in clumps rather than randomly spread out.

I would assume the local conditions being suitable for growth. They love my sterngear, bot not keen on the Coppercoat. This would indicate local conditions to me.

 

[Bouba]

I wish I knew how to set up a poll. I have lots of questions, for example
How many enthusiastic boaters have named their daughter Maureen ?

 

[Jamie Dundee]

What you find is Darwinism at its best . The successful ones will secret something in the water that attracts the loose floating juveniles .
So if one or more find a survivable habit ---- others latch on .

I seem to remember that scraping off barnacles in the water releases an enzyme which attracts other barnacles.

 

[Hydrozoan]

I seem to remember that scraping off barnacles in the water releases an enzyme which attracts other barnacles.

It was established in the 1950s, by Wyn Knight-Jones and Dennis Crisp, that barnacle larval settlement is mediated by existing or previous settlement - see https://jeb.biologists.org/content/220/2/194#ref-29 and references following this statement therein:
‘Chemical cues indicating the presence of other barnacles are the strongest driver of larval settlement ...’

 

[MapisM]

Some interesting thoughts folks, thanks a lot. I'm still a bit puzzled with regard to my original doubt, though:
Even accepting that an already fouled hull attracts further growth on the very same spots, does this affect also other hulls nearby or not?
And if yes, for better or worse?

 

[MapisM]

I wish I knew how to set up a poll. I have lots of questions, for example
How many enthusiastic boaters have named their daughter Maureen ?

It ain't rocket science, just give it a try by ticking the "post a poll" box while making a new thread, and you will be guided through it.
Anyway, FYI I didn't name my daughter Maureen!