Anaerobic organism facts for kids
An anaerobic organism is a living thing that does not need oxygen to grow and survive. These organisms get their energy without using oxygen. They are very different from humans and most animals, which need oxygen to live.
There are different kinds of anaerobic organisms:
- Obligate anaerobes are organisms that cannot live if oxygen is around. Oxygen is like a poison to them.
- Facultative anaerobes are clever! They can use oxygen if it's available. But if there's no oxygen, they can still grow and get energy without it.
- Aerotolerant organisms don't use oxygen for energy. However, unlike obligate anaerobes, oxygen does not harm them. They can survive even when oxygen is present.
Some other types include:
- Microaerophiles are organisms that need a little bit of oxygen to grow. But if there's too much oxygen, it stops them from growing.
- Nanaerobes are organisms that cannot grow with normal amounts of oxygen. But they can grow if there are tiny, tiny amounts of oxygen, called nanomolar concentrations.
Some anaerobic bacteria can make special substances that are not good for other living things, including people. For example, some bacteria cause serious illnesses like tetanus or botulism.
Contents
How Anaerobes Get Energy
Anaerobic organisms get their energy through processes that do not use oxygen. This is different from how humans and many animals get energy, which is called aerobic respiration.
Fermentation
One common way anaerobes get energy is through fermentation. In fermentation, organisms break down sugar molecules without oxygen. This process creates energy and also produces other things like lactic acid or alcohol. For example, yeast, which is a type of fungus, uses fermentation to make bread rise and to produce alcohol.
Anaerobic Respiration
Another way is called anaerobic respiration. This is similar to aerobic respiration, but instead of oxygen, these organisms use other chemicals to help them get energy. They might use things like nitrate, sulfate, or carbon dioxide.
Where Anaerobes Live
Anaerobic organisms can be found in many places where there is little or no oxygen.
- Deep in the soil: The deeper you go, the less oxygen there is.
- Bottom of lakes and oceans: Oxygen doesn't reach these deep areas easily.
- Inside our bodies: Many anaerobic bacteria live in our gut, helping us digest food.
- Swamps and marshes: These wet, muddy places often lack oxygen.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Spinoloricus nov. sp., a tiny animal that gets energy using hydrogen instead of oxygen. It has special parts called hydrogenosomes instead of mitochondria.
See also
In Spanish: Organismo anaerobio para niños
