Aerobic and Anaerobic Bacteria

Anaerobic bacteria are more easily found in an environment with low oxygen level, acidic, or other conditions that put stress on the cells of living organisms. Aerobic bacteria can be thriving in areas such as soil, water, sewage, or even decaying materials where there is plenty of oxygen.  Both types of bacteria use fermentation processes to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is a major energy source for all living cells. The end result is carbon dioxide plus hydrogen sulfide.

Aerobic Bacteria

Aerobic bacteria are those that require oxygen to carry out metabolisms. They are in a large majority and make up 75% of all the known types of bacteria. Most of them live on or near the surfaces of plant or animal life. 

Aerobic Bacteria Symbiosis

The relationship between aerobic bacteria and its host is symbiotic, as it provides both populations with benefits such as defense against other harmful organisms or nutrients for metabolism. This is called mutualism and for aerobic bacteria, nutrients could include sugars, amino acids, vitamins or even oxygen.  Some aerobic bacteria can be found in animals such as intestinal flora in humans or animals like cows and pigs.

Examples of Aerobic Bacteria

Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus fusiformis and Bacillus tenuis

How Aerobic Bacteria Provide Benefits to their Host

Aerobic bacteria provide many benefits to its host such as defense against other harmful organisms or nutrients for metabolism. They can be found in the intestines of animals in cow’s and pigs. One example is the acidophilians which provides the immune system with an alternate pathway for defense against pathogenic organisms by breaking down cell walls of microbes that can cause disease. 

Anaerobic Bacteria

Anaerobic bacteria are those that do not require oxygen to carry out metabolisms. They are found in the extreme environment, such as hot springs or sink holes like the Maracas, or anaerobic environments where there is no oxygen such as in caves and crevices, often created by petroleum. They break down other organic matter like dead insects and animals and feed off it with hydrogen sulfide around them or produce it themselves. 

Anaerobic Bacteria Symbiosis

The relationship between anaerobic bacteria and its host is parasitic in nature, as it only provides benefits to the symbiont and provides no benefits to its host. 

Examples of Anaerobic Bacteria

Prevotella copri and Desulfovibrio vulgaris

How Anaerobic Bacteria Provide Benefits to their Host

In these conditions, the host does not contribute in any way to the symbiotic relationship. This means that anaerobic bacteria do not provide any benefits to their hosts. 

Difference Between Aerobic & Anaerobic Bacteria

Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria use fermentation to produce ATP which is a major energy source for all living cells. The end result is carbon dioxide plus hydrogen sulfide.

The difference between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria is similar to the difference between symbiotic and parasitic relationships. Anaerobic bacteria provide benefits to their host in an environment with low oxygen, such as hot springs or sinkholes. Aerobic bacteria on the other hand are found in a wide range of habitats from soil to water; they have been found even in the human intestines. 

This process is called fermentation and if you take apart the molecule of ATP, it will tell you that it contains 3 phosphate groups. Some other common differences between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are:

1) Aerobic bacteria use the oxidation process to harvest energy while anaerobic bacteria use fermentation.

2) Aerobic bacteria are always found in the presence of oxygen while anaerobic bacteria can be found in low oxygen or no oxygen condition.

3) The end product of aerobic digestion is carbon dioxide, while the end product of anaerobic digestion is hydrogen sulfide.

4) Aerobic bacteria are mostly symbiotic, while anaerobic bacteria are mostly parasitic.

5) Aerobic bacteria have a cell wall that is very permeable to water, food and other nutrients, while the anaerobic ones have very little permeability of their cell walls.

Conclusion

In conclusion, aerobic bacteria are those that require oxygen to carry out metabolisms. They are in a large majority and make up 75% of all the known types of bacteria. Most of them live on or near the surfaces of plant or animal life. Aerobic bacteria provide many benefits to its host such as defense against other harmful organisms or nutrients for metabolism. On the other hand, anaerobic bacteria do not require oxygen to carry out metabolisms, making them more common in low-oxygen conditions like hot springs and sinkholes.