Release of Dissolved Amino Acids by Marine Zooplankton

Marine net zooplankton release dissolved amino acids into the water. Release rates are positively correlated with temperature and can be estimated by the equation: Release rate, (milligrams of alpha-amino nitrogen per gram dry weight of zooplankton per day) = 1.0 x temperature ( degrees C) -5.9. Release rates appeared to be independent of the taxonomic composition of the test samples, which were variously dominated by copepods, salps, chaetognaths, coelenterates, or radiolarians. These amino acids constitute an important source of dissolved organic matter in the sea.