Northern Rock Barnacle
(Balanus balanoides)
 Wikimedia image / DOI
In the beginning of their lives, northern rock barnacles float in the
water column. As they grow, they begin to search for a place
to settle. The larval barnacles typically choose to settle in
an area that already has adult barnacles. This desire to
settle with other northern rock barnacles often creates large beds of
barnacles that can cover huge areas. After they have chosen a
suitable location, the larvae release a sticky cement-like material
that attaches them to the substrate. Hours to days later, the
larval barnacles transform into adults and begin to develop calcified
plates to protect their soft bodies. As the barnacle grows
inside the shell, the outer plates are shed as new, larger ones are
formed. At the top of the barnacle are two valves that open
and close. When the barnacle is feeding, the valves are open
and its feathery legs stick out to trap food particles that pass by.
The northern rock barnacle competes with rockweed and blue mussels for
living space on the rocks. The Atlantic dogwinkle is a
successful predator of the northern rock barnacle. Humans are
also a threat to the northern rock barnacle. These barnacles belong to
a class of animals known as fouling organisms. Fouling
organisms, such as the barnacle, settle on the bottoms of boats and, in
large enough numbers, can interfere with equipment operation and can
even slow the boats down. To prevent these problems boat
hulls are painted with a special paint that is toxic to these organisms.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 10 March 2008 )
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