Particulate organic matter in shelf waters of Prinsesse Astrid Kyst, Antarctica

Abstract Particulate matter collected at a single station in waters off the ice shelf of Prinsesse Astrid Kyst (70°S, 11°E), Antarctica, during the austral summer January–February 1986 was analyzed for organic content. Phytoplankton biomass represented by chlorophyll α varied from 0.051 to 3.1 μg dm-3. Values for constituent fractions ranged as follows: adenosine triphosphate 0.33 to 1.81 μg dm-3, particulate organic carbon 305 to 1850 μg dm-3, particulate carbohydrates 8 to 176 μg dm-3, particulate proteins 22 to 132 μg dm-3and particulate lipids 8 to 209 μg dm-3. Large variation in values suggested patchy distribution. The likely presence of degraded carbon argues in favour of an active microbial community in these waters