Conclusion

At their present stage of development, biogeochemistry and organic geochemistry of marine and ocean environment have certain special aspects. These include, firstly, a transition to the systematic analysis of all principal forms of OM in the ocean (living, dissolved, suspended and that contained in bottom sediments) and of their interrelations and transformations under varying environmental conditions; secondly, the elaboration, based on quantitative data, of the pattern of the general cycling, evolution and balance of OM in the ocean; thirdly, a detailed study of the morphology and composition of OM on the molecular and atomic level; fourthly, a significant improvement of sampling methods and techniques and, finally, the supplementation of the formerly dominant chemico-analytical methods with the new and/or improved biogeochemical ones.