Aquatic ecology and Biodiversity

Unit 5- Productivity

5.2.10. Organic substances
Organic substances are known to influence the plant growth. Organic substances such as carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids, vitamins are present at lower concentration in the sea waters. Organic substance is mainly produced by decomposition and excretion of organisms. Diatoms, coccolithophorids and dinoflagellats, bacteria, fungi etc, present below the euphoric zone can utilize dissolved organic matter in the water. Some algae can utilize organic carbon such as glucose and lactate. Some diatoms, flagellates can utilize nitrogen as aminoacid, urea, uric acid etc. Certain vitamins such as vit B₁₂, B thiamine and biotin.