Question:
"Where do barnacles attach themselves?"
Cassandra from Bristol, UK

Answer:
Pilings from an old dock, covered in barnacles. Photo by Mr. William B. Folsom, NOAA, NMFS One of our researchers told us that her swim coach in college once said that if she swam any slower, she would attract barnacles! Turns out, according to our trusty "Handy Ocean Answer Book," some marine animals really do attract these pesky crustaceans: "Not all barnacles attach themselves to rocks, as many boat owners can verify. Some species of barnacles are parasites of other crustaceans or of corals; others are independent species that live in communities attached to whales, turtles, and other marine organisms. Others have a negative impact on commercial marine enterprises, covering the bottom of ships, piers, and offshore installations."

Source: The Handy Ocean Answer Book by Thomas E. Svarney & Patricia Barnes-Svarney Visible Ink Press, 2000.

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