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# Anaerobic Cellular Respiration Anaerobic cellular respiration is similar to aerobic cellular respiration, both utilize an electron transport chain, driving ATP synthesis. However, anaerobic cellular respiration uses alternative electron acceptors, such as: * Sulfate ($SO_4^{2-}$) * Nitrate ($NO_...

# Anaerobic Cellular Respiration Anaerobic cellular respiration is similar to aerobic cellular respiration, both utilize an electron transport chain, driving ATP synthesis. However, anaerobic cellular respiration uses alternative electron acceptors, such as: * Sulfate ($SO_4^{2-}$) * Nitrate ($NO_3^- $) * Sulfur Some prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea) use anaerobic respiration to breakdown fuels. For example, some archaea called methanogens use carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) as their terminal electron acceptor, producing methane ($CH_4$) as a by-product. Methanogens are found in: * Soil * Digestive systems of ruminants (cows, sheep) Similarly, sulfate-reducing bacteria and Archaea use sulfate as their terminal electron acceptor, producing hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) as a byproduct. The image depicts coastal water with blooms of sulfate-reducing bacteria appearing as large patches of green.