Saturated Hydrocarbons In Marine Organisms

Abstract

Very few data are presently available on concentration levels of hydrocarbon in the marine biota. We have determined levels of saturated hydrocarbons in marine organisms. In fishes the hydrocarbon content totals 12-90 mg (100 g)-1 wet weight; in benthic and nekto-benthic animals, 7-200 mg (100 g)-1. The hydrobionts examined contained a wide range of normal and branched alkanes, forming homologous series in some cases.