1. An organism that attaches to and grows on submerged surfaces, such as ship hulls, pipes, or marine equipment, causing damage or reduced efficiency.
Usage: technical; marine biology; environmental science

Examples

• Barnacles are common biofoulers that accumulate on the hulls of ships.
• The water treatment facility struggled with biofoulers clogging the intake pipes.
• Marine engineers develop coatings to prevent biofoulers from settling on underwater structures.
• Algae and mussels are major biofoulers in coastal power plants.
• The research team studied how biofoulers affect the efficiency of desalination systems.