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In This Article

  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Protocol
  • Representative Results
  • Discussion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Materials
  • References
  • Reprints and Permissions

Summary

This protocol presents a method for assessing the feeding rate of the wood-boring crustacean, Limnoria, by measuring faecal pellet production. This method is designed for use in non-specialist labs and has potential for incorporation into standard testing protocols, to evaluate enhanced wood durability under marine conditions.

Abstract

Wood-boring invertebrates rapidly destroy marine timbers and wooden coastal infrastructure, causing billions of dollars of damage around the globe every year. As treatments of wood with broad spectrum biocides, such as creosote and chromated copper arsenate (CCA), are now restricted in marine use by legislation, naturally durable timber species and novel preservation methods of wood are required. These methods undergo testing in order to meet regulatory standards, such as the European standard for testing wood preservatives against marine borers, EN 275. Initial investigation of durable timbers species or wood preservative treatments can be achieved quickly and inexpensively through laboratory testing, which offers many advantages over marine field trials that are typically costly, long-term endeavours. Many species of Limnoria (gribble) are marine wood-boring crustaceans. Limnoria are ideal for use in laboratory testing of biodegradation of wood by marine wood-borers, due to the practicality of rearing them in aquaria and the ease of measuring their feeding rates on wood. Herein, we outline a standardizable laboratory test for assessing wood biodegradation using gribble.

Introduction

Wood-borers can cause extensive damage to marine wooden structures, such as sea defences, piers, and aquaculture structures; the replacement or restoration of which costs billions of dollars per annum worldwide1,2,3. In order to protect these structures, timber is often treated to reduce biodegradation. However, due to the restriction of use of broad-spectrum biocides in Australia, EU, UK, and USA, in the marine environment, new modification techniques and species of wood that are naturally durable to borers are sought after4,

Protocol

1. Preparing Test Sticks

  1. After any treatment processes are complete, cut dry wood into test sticks to size 2 mm x 4 mm x 20 mm (Figure 1). Air dry sticks to a constant weight, under laboratory conditions. Use at least 5 replicates of each wood being tested.

figure-protocol-410
Figure 1: Tes.......

Representative Results

A feeding experiment of L. quadripunctata was conducted over 20 days, using five different wood types (Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L) sapwood, and heartwood of beech (Fagus sylvatica L), ekki (Lophira alata Banks ex C. F Gaertn), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mil), and turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera (Sm.) Neid)) (See Table of Materials), in November 2020. Eight replicate sticks were used per wood species and one specimen of Limnoria.......

Discussion

Prior to selecting gribble specimens to be used in the feeding experiment, individuals should be screened to assess their suitability. There can be some variation in feeding rate between individuals due to differences in size, so only fully grown adult specimens should be selected. No significant difference between feeding rate of individuals between 1.5 mm and 3 mm length was detected by Borges et al., 200917. Female Limnoria brood their eggs, during which time have a reduced feedin.......

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the Research Council of Norway (Oslo Regional Fund, Alcofur rffofjor 269707) and the University of Portsmouth (Faculty of Science PhD research bursary) for providing funding for the studies of Lucy Martin. Also, to Gervais S. Sawyer who provided the wood used to generate the representative results. Turpentine was provided by Prof. Philip Evans of the University of British Columbia.

....

Materials

NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
12-well cell culture platesThermoFisher Scientific150200
50ml Falcon tubesFisher Scientific14-432-22
Adjustable volume pipetteFisher ScientificFBE100001-10 ml
BeechG. Sawyer (consultant in timber technology)Fagus sylvaticaTaxonomic authority: L
EkkiG. Sawyer (consultant in timber technology)Lophira alataTaxonomic authority: Banks ex C. F. Gaertn.
ForcepsFisher Scientific10098140
IncubatorLMS LTDINC5009
Microporous specimen capsulesElectron Microscopy Sciences70187-20
Petri dishFisher ScientificFB0875713
Scots PineG. Sawyer (consultant in timber technology)Pinus sylvestrisTaxonomic authority: L.
Size 00000 paintbrushHobby Craft5674331001Size 000 or 0000 also acceptable
Sweet ChestnutG. Sawyer (consultant in timber technology)Castanea sativaTaxonomic authority: Mill
TurpentineP. Evans (Professor, Dept. Wood Science, University of British Columbia)Syncarpia glomuliferaTaxonomic authority: (Sm.) Nied.
Vacuum desiccatorFisher Scientific15544635

References

  1. Morrell, J. J., Kutz, M. Protection of wood-based materials. Handbook of environmental degradation of materials, 3rd ed. , 343-368 (2018).
  2. Distel, D. L., Goodell, B., Nicholas, D., Schultz, T. The biology of marine wood boring bivalves and their ba....

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