EN
Potential activity of hydrolytic microbial extracellular enzymes were determined in a sandy beach in Sopot, (Southern Baltic Sea) in July 2001. Among of the five monitored enzymes, the highest level of activity (314.28 nM MCA g⁻¹d.w. h⁻¹) was determined in the aminopeptidase whereas chitinase had the lowest level (0.50 nM MUF g⁻¹d.w. h⁻¹) of potential activity. Usually, the ranking of the activity rates of the assayed enzymes was following: aminopeptidase > lipase > β-glucosidase > α-glucosidase > chitinase. Clear gradients in the level of enzymatic activity were determined in horizontal profile of the beach. The maximum activity of studied enzymes was recorded in sand collected under seawater and at the waterline.