Concentration and microbiological utilization of small organic molecules in the Scheldt estuary, the Belgian coastal zone of the North Sea and the English Channel

Concentrations and utilization rates of alanine, aspartate, lysine, glucose, glycollic, acetic and lactic acids have been determined on 6 occasions at least, during a full seasonal cycle in the water column of 3 stations (Scheldt estuary, coastal North Sea and English Channel) with greatly differing biological characteristics. No significant differences in substrate concentration could be detected between the 3 stations, although the rate of utilization of all substrates differed greatly, decreasing in the order estuarine > coastal > open sea environment. This apparent paradox is explain... Mehr ...