U tv1x 2 dp72

To visually identify possible macrofouling species attached to the surfaces in the last of sampling of each season, a qualitative taxonomic analysis of the plates in the presence and absence of the paint was performed. Briefly, and independent 2 cm by 2 cm square of the colonizing community (see Figure 1) was scraped. The sample was kept in an icebox and transported to the lab where a morpho-taxonomic analysis was performed using a light microscope at 10×, 40×, and 100× magnifications. Photographs were obtained using a digital camera unit Olympus U-TV1X-2 DP72 attached to an Olympus SZX10 microscope or an Olympus BX41 phase-contrast microscope. Identification was performed to the lowest possible taxonomic level, by consulting reference taxonomic guides (Kraberg et al., 2010 ; Mees, 2015 ).

To visually identify biofouling species, a qualitative analysis of the samples was performed under a light microscope at × 10, × 40, and × 100 magnifications. Photographs were obtained using a digital camera unit Olympus U-TV1X-2 DP72 attached to an Olympus SZX10 microscope or an Olympus BX41 phase-contrast microscope. Identification was performed to the lowest possible taxonomic level, by consulting taxonomic guides^{43 ,44} , and the World Register of Marine Species (WORMS)⁴⁵ and AlgaeBase⁴⁶ databases.