Sediment samples were obtained for detailed Adenosine 5'-Triphosphate (ATP) analysis down to 57.8 m below the seafloor (mbsf). The samples were also analyzed for particle-size distribution, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), organic carbon, and total nitrogen. The concentrations of ATP ranged between 360 and 7050 pg/g (dry weight sediment), which agree well with a limited number of direct bacteria counts. Principal component analyses show that 63% of the total variance can be accounted for by the first two principal components. The concentration of ATP (bacterial numbers by inference) is virtually independent of the concentration of sedimentary organic carbon, but correlates with CaCO3 and coarse particles.

Supplement to: Egeberg, Per Kristian (2000): Adenosine 5'-Triphosphate (ATP) as a proxy for bacteria numbers in deep-sea sediments and correlation with geochemical parameters (Site 994). In: Paull, CK; Matsumoto, R; Wallace, PJ; Dillon, WP (eds.) Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), 164, 1-6