THE SPECTRUM OF PARTICULATE ORGANIC MATTER OF SHALLOW‐BOTTOM BOUNDARY WATERS OF JAMAICA1

Samples of near‐bottom shallow waters of Jamaica were analyzed for particulate matter by direct microscopy and for total particulate organic carbon (POC) by wet ashing. Aggregates comprise less than 5% of discrete particulate material and less than 0.5% of total POC. About 88% of POC is not accounted for by discrete particulate material. Parallel analyses of exhalant water samples from marine sponges indicate that about 35% of the missing POC is available to these filter feeders and is probably colloidal in nature.