Phospholipids in marine environments: a review

This paper provides a brief summary of environmental and ecological concepts, and analytical techniques for marine phospholipids (PL). These compounds have been recognized to be a major component of lipids which play a vital role as structural and functional components of biological membranes in all marine organisms from viruses to large animals. Major areas discussed are developed methods of PL analysis and their limitations and implications. Another important aspect of PL in marine ecosystems is also discussed here, that is, the role and dynamics of PL as a significant component of the nutrient phosphorus (P). However, information on PL as a P component in marine environments, such as their spatial and temporal distribution, their contribution to the total P pool, and their biological availability as the nutrient P source, is still limited. It is argued that this is due to the separation of marine PL studies into either “lipid studies” or “nutrient P studies”. New techniques are reviewed that can be developed as a powerful tool to unite the two aspects of PL studies.