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204 R. ZACCONE, R. LA FERLA, M. AZZARO, G. CARUSO AND E. CRISAFI

TABLE 2.

Significant correlation coefficients between EEA and R versus other parameters in Adriatic Sea (' : P <
0.05; '' : P< 0.01; n = 30). .

June 96 Febr 97 June 97 June 96 Febr 97 June 97

EEA versus 0.39’ 0.81" R versus 0.39’ 0.55’’
R 0.47' 0.47" 0.55’’ EEA 0.39”
DOC 0.75" 0.53”
BCP 0.50" -0.42' 0.68" DOC 0.44’ 0.47”
T° C -0.75" 0.99" BCP -0.58' -0.65"
S 0.61 T° C 0.74”
POC 0.55" 0.77”
PON 0.56" -0.94" S
0.94” POC
0.93" PON

On yearly scale the hydrolysis of organic matter by enzymes and respiration
increased from 1996 to 1997, with a preferential attack on the dissolved fraction
(DOC) in June ’96 and on the particulate matter (POC) in June ’97. This would
suggest that hydrolytic and respiratory capacities are to be imputed to the quality of
substrates present in the environment.

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