Microbiological Studies on the Decomposition of Chitin in Marine Environment-IX

Abstract

The rate of chitinoclastic activity of the dominant species of marine chitinoclastic bacteria and temperature relationship follows the ARRHENIUS equation, and the chemical reaction of the bacteria is that of facultative psychrophiles as same as other marine bacteria in the region of the Sagami Bay. Chitin in the sea is roughly calculated to be completely mineralized within 50 days and 140 days in the surface waters at 25°C and 15°C respectively, within 370 days in the intermediate waters at 5°C and within 500 days in the deep waters at a few degrees centigrade.