Question

The Desulfovibrio bacterium breaks down organic matter (which it must have) and uses sulfate (not oxygen) as an electron acceptor. As a result, it produces hydrogen sulfide (H2S), accounting for the "rotten egg" smell of swamp muck. Oxygen is a deadly poison to Desulfovibrio. We would call Desulfovibrio a(n) __________.

Answer 1

Answer:

obligate anaerobe.

Explanation:

Anaerobic bacteria do not need the presence of oxygen to live, the opposite to aerobic organisms, that could not survive without it. Some of the anaerobic organisms can live in the presence of oxygen, but they can switch from aerobic respiration to fermentation in the absence of oxugen. On the contrary, obligate anaerobes reacts negatively to the presence of oxygen, they can not survive on atmosferic concentration of oxygen, like the case presented in this problem.