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Science 15 June 1984:
Vol. 224. no. 4654, pp. 1235 - 1237
DOI: 10.1126/science.224.4654.1235
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Articles

Copepod Fecal Pellets as a Source of Dihydrophytol in Marine Sediments

F. G. PRAHL 1, G. EGLINTON 1, E. D. S. CORNER 2, and S. C. M. O'HARA 2

1 Organic Chemistry Unit, University of Bristol School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, England
2 Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, England

Dihydrophytol(3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanol) was identified in the nonsaponified lipid fraction of fecal pellets from the copepod Calanus helgolandicus fed in the laboratory on a unialgal diet. Direct deposition in the fecal pellets of certain zooplankton species may explain the presence of dihydrophytol in marine sediments. Microbial reduction of phytol in sediment cores does not account for the origin of this compound in all sedimentary environments.

Submitted on February 8, 1984
Accepted on March 19, 1984


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Biodegradation of Free Phytol by Bacterial Communities Isolated from Marine Sediments under Aerobic and Denitrifying Conditions.
J.-F. Rontani, P. C. Bonin, and J. K. Volkman (1999)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 65, 5484-5492
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)