Microbiological processes of organic matter destruction in the bottom sediments of the Baltic Sea

Microbiological processes of organic matter (OM) destruction in the bottom sediments of the Baltic Sea in the winter period were investigated. The dai ly rates of some processes reached are as follows: total destruction of OM was 10-130 mg C/m(2) absorption of O-2 was 0-59 mg/m(2), release of CO2 was 18-120 me C/m(2), assimilation of CO2 was 2.6-36 mg C/m(2), sulfate reduct ion was 2.7-90 mg S/m(2), methanogenesis was 0.06-5.4 ml CH4/m(2) and aerob ic methane oxidation was 0-4.3 mi CH4/m(2). It was found that the major par t of OM in the sediments is destroyed anaerobically. As this occurs, the re duced products of decay are incorporated into bacterial metabolism. In the winter, the products of chemosynthesis and methane compensate for the short age of OM photosynthesis in the ecosystem.