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In-situ studies on deep-sea amphipods and their intestinal microflora

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Abstract

Amphipods, trapped at depths of 1 410 to 5 330 m and incubated in situ in the presence of a radiolabeled protein as a food source, were fractionated to measure the distribution of label in the major biochemical constituents: low molecular pools, ethanol and base soluble proteins, lipids, polysaccharides and nucleic acids. The results suggest lipid energy storage and enhanced microbial growth within the amphipod guts as compared to growth on the uningested food material. The merits and limitations of this general approach are critically evaluated.

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Communicated by S. K. Pierce, College Park

Contribution No. 5464 of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

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Wirsen, C.O., Jannasch, H.W. In-situ studies on deep-sea amphipods and their intestinal microflora. Mar. Biol. 78, 69–73 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392973

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392973

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