Built structures on the seabed promote marine biofilm development and diversity

This study assessed short-term (3-4.5 month) changes to the community succession and diversity of marine biofilms on steel surfaces introduced to the marine environment near (within 125 m) structures with established biofilms. Data generated by this study informs how the presence and type of built structures in the marine environment changes the diversity, richness, and phylogenetic composition of biofilm microbiomes forming on new surfaces arriving to the seabed.