The mechanism by which barnacles adhere to surfaces is unresolved. Different lines of evidence support a mechanism by which multiple liquid fractions secreted at the advancing leading edge of the base plate react to form a solid adhesive. Here we describe results in which electrochemical techniques and surface plasmon resonance imaging are applied to investigate adhesion of Balanus amphitrite to a gold surface. The results reveal an abrupt ennoblement by which the open circuit potential of the gold surface increases dramatically following resettlement of a barnacle. This ennoblement appears associated with the readhesion process and suggests possible redox activity of one more of the secreted fractions. The results also reveal peristaltic-like pumping of a liquid fraction along the base plate leading edge. Such pumping is consistent with recent confocal microscopy that revealed periodic secretion of liquid fractions along the base plate leading edge.

Electrochemical and surface plasmon resonance imaging based investigation of barnacle adhesion

245th National Meeting (2013)

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