Anoxic conditions refer to environments that are devoid of oxygen. These conditions significantly affect the types of organisms that can survive and thrive, particularly favoring certain prokaryotes.
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Many prokaryotes, including some bacteria and archaea, are adapted to live in anoxic environments.
Anoxic conditions often occur in deep ocean sediments, swamps, and other places where oxygen is depleted.
Certain metabolic processes like anaerobic respiration and fermentation are favored under anoxic conditions.
Methanogens, a type of archaea, produce methane as a byproduct of their metabolism in anoxic environments.
Anoxic environments can lead to the accumulation of organic matter since aerobic decomposers cannot function without oxygen.