OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF PHOSPHATASE IN NERITIC AND OCEANIC SEDIMENTS

A fluorometric method using 3-o-methylfluorescein phosphate as a substrate was used to determine phosphatase in marine sediments. Alkaline phosphatase was detected in all sediments from both neritic and oceanic regions of the Pacific Ocean, Sulu Sea, Timor Sea, Sahul Shelf, and South China Sea. Significant activity was found even in sediments from depths of 5900 to 7700 m. Phosphatase activity was generally highest at the surface of the sediments and decreased with increasing depth; in the surface layers it tended to decrease as the depth of overlying water increased. There was a positive relationship between the phosphatase activity and the total and inorganic phosphorus contents. © 1979.