Organic carbon levels in some aquatic ecosystems.

An infrared gasometric method was used to investigate the organic carbon levels in the coastal waters of Texas, in contributing rivers, and in some other selected systems. The highest concentration of organic carbon found was over 100mg/liter from samples taken from a salt pool in Puerto Rico. The lowest concentration was zero mg carbon/liter in two springs located in Texas limestone formations. Rivers fed by the springs increased in organic carbon concentration as they flowed toward the coast to 20 mg carbon/liter. In the Texas marine bays concentrations of organic carbon were 5 to 10 times higher than concentrations in the Gulf of Mexico (about 2 mg carbon/liter).