RT journal article
T1 Effects of substrata and environmental conditions on ecological succession on historic shipwrecks
A1 González Duarte, Manuel María
A1 Fernández Montblanc, Tomás
A1 Bethencourt Núñez, Manuel
A1 Izquierdo González, Alfredo
A2 Ciencia de los Materiales e Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Química Inorgánica
A2 Física Aplicada
K1 Ecological succession
K1 Shipwreck
K1 Sessile community
K1 preservation
K1 Environmental dynamic
AB An understanding of the interactions between biological, chemical and physical dynamics is especiallyimportant for the adequate conservation of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. However, while physicaland chemical processes are relatively well-investigated, the biological communities associated withthese habitats are poorly studied. We compared the sessile community developed on panels of differentmaterials placed on two historical shipwrecks, the Fougueux and the Bucentaure, from the Battle ofTrafalgar (October 1805). Six materials used at the construction of vessels at the 18th and 19th centurieswere selected: copper, brass, cast iron, carbon steel, pine and oak. The sessile community developed onthe panels was studied two and 15 months after their immersion at the water to determine the effects ofmaterials and environmental conditions (sediments, waves, hydrodynamic conditions, temperature andsalinity) on ecological succession and the possible implications at the conservation of historical shipwrecks.On the Fougueux, the environmental conditions more strongly influenced the biological successionthan the material type, with pioneer colonisers dominating the communities in both samplingperiods. On the Bucentaure, exposed to more stable environmental conditions, the sessile communityshowed differences between sampling periods and among materials at the end of the experiment. Underthese more stable environmental conditions, the material type showed a higher influence on the sessilecommunity. Species that produce calcareous concretions developed on metallic panels, but were absenton wood panels, where the shipworm Teredo navalis was more abundant. The relationship betweenenvironmental conditions, sessile organisms and material type can influence the conservation status ofthe archaeological sites.
YR 2018
FD 2018-01
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/20331
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/20331
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 11-nov-2026