Adenosine 5'-triphosphate
View Data
To assist in the interpretation of the data, it can be displayed using the Hawaii Ocean Time-series Data Organization & Graphical System (HOT-DOGS©).

Analytical Method

The amount of living microbial biomass in the water column was determined by the measurement of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) concentrations. Seawater samples were filtered through 47 mm GF/F glass fiber filters to collect particulate material and the filters placed in boiling Tris-buffer for ATP extraction. ATP concentrations were determined using the firefly bioluminescence technique described by Karl and Holm-Hansen (1978).

The average precisions of ATP determinations during 2006 determined from triplicate analyses are presented in the Table below.

Results

The concentration of particulate ATP resembles those of the particulate bioelements, showing maximum concentration near the surface and a decreasing profile with depth (Figure 53). Surface ocean ATP varies between years more than three-fold, with conspicuously high levels noted in 1994-1995.