Mineralisation

Takes place throughout the water column & at the sea floor. Decomposition of organic material takes place via oxidative degradation through the action of heterotrophic bacteria. In anoxic conditions, bacterial degradation is anaerobic using oxygen found in sulphate and nitrate radicals to produce highly reduced compounds such as methane, hydrogen sulphide & ammonia. The ability to utilise sulphate as an electron acceptor for energy-generating processes is restricted to the obligately anaerobic sulphate-reducing bacteria. Chemoautotrophs, use compounds high in chemical energy.