Hydrolysis and stability of water humus

Hydrolysis, i.e. decomposition of humus is usually determined by bacterial activity (Waksman, 1936). The use of humus by other organisms has been studied by numerous authors. The study by Khailovetal. (1973) may serve as an example. Their work supplies a number of references to the literature on the subject. 

Sepers (1977) reviews a number of papers devoted to the study of the use of OM by bacteria, phytoplankton and invertebrates. Recent investigations have revealed that the main consumers of the above-mentioned OM are bacteria, which agrees with the view expressed earlier. 

There are, however, other factors which determine the water humus decrease partial loss of colour in the surface layers, sorption onto particles, aggregation followed by partial consumption by deep-sea inhabitants and sedimentation possibly also by chemical oxidation. 

The intensity of these processes cannot be estimated quantitatively yet, but, apparently, their role is comparatively small. 

A dynamic equilibrium can be said to exist between the annual input and decrease of water humus in the world ocean (Skopintsev, 1950). Its annual average input equals 1 pg C T (see Table IX). In reality, according to the vertical distribution of phytoplankton, zooplankton (Yashnov, 1962) and bacteria (Sorokin, 1962), its input should be highest in the euphotic zone and zones adjacent to it. The trophic factors determine the regularity of the vertical distribution of zooplankton (Vinogradov, 1968) and bacteria. Thus, 

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