Heterotrophic Utilization of Dissolved Organic Compounds in the Sea III. Measurement of the Oxidation Rates and Concentrations of Glucose and Amino Acids in Sea Water

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONOne of the longstanding problems in marine biology has been to determine the quantitative importance of bacteria in the regeneration of the inorganic nutrients. There probably still is no entirely satisfactory way of studying this. It is currently believed that although a variety of marine organisms may utilize soluble organic compounds, bacteria dominate this activity. Thus, a measurement of the amount of soluble organic material oxidized will give a first approximation of bacterial activity. Such an estimate may have to be revised at a later date to allow for the activity of other micro-organisms.