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Alkaline phosphatase activity in marine macrophytes: histochemical localization in some widespread species in southern Spain

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Abstract

Alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) was determined in 44 species of marine macrophytes collected throughout 1991 and 1992 along the southern coast of Spain. Activity varied between 0.83 μmol paranitrophenol (pNP) released g-1 dry wt h-1 in Ulva rigida var. gigantea and 238.8 μmol pNP g-1 dry wt h-1 in Bangia fuscopurpurea. Using a histochemical method, APA sites were located in five of these species: Corallina elongata Ellis et Soland, Gelidium latifolium (Grev.) Thur. et Born., G. sesquipedale (Clem.) Born. et Thur., Porphyra umbilicalis (L.) Kützing and Zostera noltii Hornem. Enzymatic activity was found in the outer part of the thallus, either on the cell wall or in the cortical cells. In the marine phanerogam Z. noltii activity was also located in the vascular bundle. The results suggest that APA is present in many, if not all, marine macrophytes from southern Spain, and plays a relevant role in the utilization of dissolved organic phosphorus compounds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Cádiz, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Polígno Rio San Pedro, E-11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    I. Hernández

  2. Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, E-29071, Málaga, Spain

    F. X. Niell

  3. Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, E-29071, Málaga, Spain

    J. A. Fernández

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  1. I. Hernández
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  2. F. X. Niell
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  3. J. A. Fernández
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Communicated by J. M. Pérès, Marseille

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Hernández, I., Niell, F.X. & Fernández, J.A. Alkaline phosphatase activity in marine macrophytes: histochemical localization in some widespread species in southern Spain. Marine Biology 120, 501–509 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350070

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