Potential disruptive effects of copper-based antifouling paints on biodiversity of coastal macrofouling community.

In recent years, after the ban on tributyltin (TBT)-based antifouling paints, copper-based paints have become the main coatings for boat hulls due to their effectiveness, efficiency and endurance. Copper(I) compounds are used alone or in combination with booster biocides. The expanded use of these paints has increased copper leaching into coastal environments, requiring attention and legislative restrictions. This study monitored the ecological succession of macrofouling communities on wooden and steel panels immersed for 10 months in the southern basin of the Lagoon of Venice. The development of macrofouling communities on the panels coated with copper-containing antifouling paints was compared with those on the reference (uncoated) and TBT-coated panels. To describe the effects on the communities, PERMANOVA and a series of biodiversity descriptors were considered; these descriptors highlighted the disturbing activity of the antifouling paints that resulted in negative species selection.