Jack Longsden1,2, Heater Sugden1, Lloyd Peck2, Melody Clark2
1Newcastle University, UK - 2British Antarctic Survey, UK
The growth of biofouling communities has been a practical consideration since humans first ventured into maritime navigation (Latif et al., 2023). This issue remains highly relevant today due to the significant related economic implications, such as increased fuel costs for vessels associated with hull biofouling, which alone is estimated to result in annual costs of $150 billion globally (Selim et al., 2017). Recent studies have highlighted the importance of understanding biofouling community development under the pressures of a changing climate. Observations of accelerated growth rates and reduced acclimatisation to elevated temperatures (Ashton et al., 2017; Clark et al., 2019) highlight the potential for far-reaching consequences. This project aims to investigate how temperate biofouling communities will respond to climate change. Key objectives include quantifying the impact of temperature change on community and species growth rates, examining the effects of marine heatwaves on biofouling community resilience and growth, identifying species likely to dominate future biofouling assemblages, and exploring the molecular responses of these species to climatic stressors. By addressing these questions, this research aims to provide insights into the future of biofouling in an increasingly volatile marine environment, informing both ecological understanding and antifouling management strategies.
Biography
Jack Longsden is a first-year PhD student affiliated with Newcastle University and British Antarctic Survey. His research focuses on understanding biofouling communities’ responses to climate change and marine heatwaves. Jack’s work involves field experiments in the North East of England, where novel heated settlement panels simulate warming conditions in the marine environment. The project aims to provide insights into marine organisms’ adaptability and resilience under changing conditions.