[ATP as an indecator of biomass in marine sediments].

ATP was extracted from sediments with Tris buffer at 100° C. Using the luciferine-luciferase assay for the determination of ATP the lowest detectable concentration in the sediments was 5x10 g ATP/ml Sediment. By multiplication with the factor 50 ATP levels were converted into biomass-carbon. Comparison with total organic carbon content of the sediments led to the conclusion that, depending on the type of sediment, the organic carbon content of living matter amounts to 0.13-1.6 per cent of the total organic carbon.