Microbial hydrolysis of polysaccharides and organic phosphates in the Northern Adriatic Sea

Beta-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase, two ectoenzymes involved in the microbial decomposition of polysaccharides and organic phosphates, were evaluated in water samples collected from two areas of the Northern Adriatic Sea during the multidisciplinary Prisma II research project. The distribution of beta-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase is reported together with that of leucine aminopeptidase, an enzyme involved in the degradation of protein compounds. The data obtained showed the prevalence of beta-glucosidase in summer months in the northern area, located in front of the Po delta, while in winter it is higher in the southern area (in front of Ancona). Phosphatase activity during February, 1998 had a maximum of 107 nm l(-1) h(-1) at a coastal station in the northern area; this enzyme appeared to be mainly associated with phytoplankton because the increase in alkaline phosphatase was associated with the increase of phytoplankton biomass, measured by chlorophyll a content. The relations between the microbial activities and environmental parameters are discussed.