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Extracellular enzymes in a small polyhumic lake: origin, distribution and activities

  • Bacterial and Microbial Processes
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Abstract

Seven extracellular enzymes were studied in a small polyhumic lake. Phosphatase, glucosidase and leucine-aminopeptidase were found to contribute strongest to the regeneration of nutrients and processing of polymeric organic substrates. Phosphatase activity varied between 10–800 nmol l−1 h−1 with highest activity in May–June. Glucosidase and leucine-aminopeptidase varied between 5–130 nmol l−1 h−1 with maxima in early and late summer. Phosphatase and leucine-aminopeptidase are stratified significantly in the water column. About 60% of leucine aminopeptidase could be attributed to bacterioplankton, whereas phosphatase were found to be 50–70% free dissolved in the water.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institute for Limnology, P.O. Box 165, D-2320, Germany

    U. Münster & J. Overbeck

  2. Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, SF-16900, Lammi, Finland

    J. Nurminen & P. Einiö

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  1. U. Münster
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  2. J. Nurminen
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  3. P. Einiö
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  4. J. Overbeck
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Münster, U., Nurminen, J., Einiö, P. et al. Extracellular enzymes in a small polyhumic lake: origin, distribution and activities. Hydrobiologia 243, 47–59 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007019

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