Anti-fouling activity and toxicity of the Mediterranean alien sponge Paraleucilla magna Klautau, Monteiro & Borojevic, 2004 (Porifera, Calcarea)

Poriferans, as sessile organisms without rigid external covering, use secondary metabolites for protection from predators and fouling organisms. The present study tested the antifouling activity of ethanolic extract of the Mediterranean alien calcareous sponge Paraleucilla magna towards juvenile mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis. Furthermore, toxicity tests on nauplii of brine shrimp Artemia salina and two microalgae strains, Nannochloropsis sp. and Tetraselmis suecica, were also conducted. A total attachment inhibition of M. galloprovincialis was achieved at a concentration of 400 mg/mL of sponge extract. The 50% mortality of A. salina nauplii was recorded at a concentration of 500 mg/mL of ethanolic extract. The growth inhibitory effect on both marine microalgae strains has been registered at a concentration of 300 mg/mL. Our results suggest promising natural antifouling activity and low toxicity of the ethanolic extract of P. magna that could be used as antifouling compound.