Chlorophylls and their degradation products in the deep pigment maximum layer of the tropical North Atlantic

摘要: Abstract In the tropical Atlantic between Africa and 40° W observations were made on a continuous subsurface layer with relatively high plant pigment concentrations. The maximum deepened gradually from east to west depth of 150 m at mid-ocean stations. There it was found closest bottom euphotic zone, in association nitrite maximum. Thin-layer chromatography samples taken revealed presence much chlorophyll b concentrations derivatives allomers. Consumption algae by microzooplankton bacteria is presumably origin most decomposition products; contribution these products total amount chlorophyll-like pigments present increased increasing distance shore. It suggested that while goes throughout only rate photo-oxidation its low enough allow accumulation light-sensitive compounds.