Biochemical Approaches to Estimates of the World Ocean Productivity

Abstract

The review on organic matter (OM) as an indicator of productivity of water basins presents a discussion of modern concepts about influxes, transformation, and an outflow of OM from its cycle. Particular attention is paid to rates of primary production of OM in various ecosystems of the Word ocean and the OM input with the riverine discharge. Techniques of the most representative determination of concentrations of major OM constituents (C org, N org and P org) are described. Distribution of the oceanic OM between solution, particulate matter, and sediments is shown. Role of colloidal OM in the organic matter export from the photic layer down to the bottom sediments is outlined. It is shown that in temperate waters dissolved OM is the main form of exported production. The review describes individual importance of the OM biochemical constituents (mainly proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids) in estimates of productivity for autotrophs and heterotrophs, as well as in assessment of contamination levels in some basins. Routes of the OM consumption and transformation in the marine ecosystem are analyzed. Rates of the OM transformation and oxidation estimated on respective hydrolytic and redox enzymes are cited.