(Table 1) Organic matter and biochemical composition of bottom sediments and interstitial waters of several Antarctic areas

Amounts of organic matter, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids were studied in the upper layer of bottom sediments and interstitial waters on the shelf and slope of the Lazarev Sea, the eastern section of the Bransfield Strait, north of the South Georgia Island, and in the northern Peru area. Biological activity of bottom sediments was determined by measuring protease activity (decomposition of proteins to amino acids) and activity of the electron transport system (rate of oxidation of organic matter to CO2 and H2O). Recirculation time of proteins and time of complete oxidation of organic matter to CO2 and H2O were determined. Recirculation time of proteins and of organic matter in the production-destruc¬tion cycle averaged 2 to 3 orders of magnitude shorter in the Antarctic regions than in the Peru area. Interstitial waters are assumed to play a principal role in circulation of organic matter at water-sediment-interstitial water interfaces.本研究针对拉扎列夫海（Lazarev Sea）陆架与陆坡区、布兰斯菲尔德海峡（Bransfield Strait）东段、南乔治亚岛（South Georgia Island）以北海域，以及秘鲁北部海域的海底沉积物上层与间隙水（interstitial water），测定了其中有机质、蛋白质、碳水化合物与脂质的含量。通过检测蛋白酶活性（即蛋白质降解为氨基酸的过程）与电子传递系统（electron transport system）活性（即有机质氧化为二氧化碳与水的反应速率），表征海底沉积物的生物活性；同时测定了蛋白质周转时长与有机质完全氧化为二氧化碳和水的所需时间。研究结果显示，南极海域内蛋白质与有机质在生产-分解（production-destruction）循环中的平均周转时长，较秘鲁北部海域短2~3个数量级。间隙水被认为在水-沉积物-间隙水界面的有机质循环过程中发挥核心作用。