Maxim,
"Thigmotoxic" would not mean "prefer to settle on rough surfaces".
Perhaps you meant "thigmotactic", though I am not familiar with the term.
There is a very extensive marine-biological literature on fouling
organisms, their preferences, modes of fouling and so forth. It isn't my
field and I haven't looked into it since undergraduate classes long ago.
However, if you contact the biology department of your own university,
there may well be someone able to point you towards current textbooks
and review articles.
Trevor Kenchington
You wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I read somewhere that fouling organisms are thigmotoxic, which would
> mean that they prefer to settle on rough surfaces.
> However, when I looked up "thigmotoxic", I didn't find a reference
> anywhere.
> I don't see how "thigmo" (Gr: touch) indicates a connection with
> roughness.
> Can anybody confirm that to have come across this word in this context?
> Or would you know a good reference on the preference of fouling
> organisms to settle on rough surfaces?
> Best Regards,
>
> Maxim Candries
> Department of Marine Technology
> Newcastle University
--
Trevor J. Kenchington PhD [log in to unmask]
Gadus Associates, Office(902) 889-9250
R.R.#1, Musquodoboit Harbour, Fax (902) 889-9251
Nova Scotia B0J 2L0, CANADA Home (902) 889-3555
Science Serving the Fisheries
http://home.istar.ca/~gadus
|