Metabolic pathways of bacteria inhabiting dynamic sandy sediments

Sandy marine sediments are dynamic environments that constantly fluctuate in oxygen concentration due to waves and currents. As such, these settings select for metabolically flexible bacteria, those capable of using oxygen and other dissolved species to survive, while excluding bacteria with stricter anoxic metabolisms. This thesis explores the flexible bacteria inhabiting these sediments, revealing the unique metabolism they possess in regard to carbon degradation and energy storage.