Characterization of metabolic adaptations of planktonic species/assemblages to suboxic/hypoxic conditions off Chile

Title: Characterization of the metabolic adaptations of planktonic species/assemblages to the suboxic/hypoxic conditions in the Humboldt Current System off Chile The metabolic adaptations of planktonic species to hypoxic waters associated with the presence of the Equatorial subsurface water in the epipelagic system of the Humboldt Current System were unknown previous to the FONDAP-Humboldt programme. This work involved determining the type and activity of the enzymes involved in anaerobic metabolism.

The enzymatic techniques were developed on intertidal (littoral) and sublittoral species. Several experiments were conducted on P. laevigatus, an intertidal crustacean, to determine the presence and activity of lactate dehyrogenase (LDH), octopine dehydrogenase (OPDH), strombin dehydrogenase (STRDH), alanopin dehydrogenase (ALPDH) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). In addition, it's aerobic respiration was determined under different temperatures and it's resistance to hypoxic conditions in seawater.