Microbial activity in the sediment of the Sognefjord (Norway)

Abstract

The activity of microorganisms was investigated in sediment samples of the Norwegian Sognefjord at a 1260 m depth. The enzymatic potential (measured, using the cleavage of fluoresceindiacetate FDA) ranged between 11 and 29 nmol FDA cm-3 h-1. Labeled Anacystis sp. (Cyanobacteria) were degraded (measured as liberation of14C-labeled CO2) at a rate of 0.67-1.24% day-1. The assays were run at 1 atm and at 126 atm pressure. In both cases, activity was higher when samples were incubated under 1 atm than under simulated in-situ conditions. This indicates that the sediment community of the fjord is adapted only to a limited extent to the elevated pressure at the bottom. The results are compared and discussed with data from other deep marine environments. © 1995 Biologische Anstalt Helgiland.