Release of Phosphate by Bacterial Activity

In contrast to the different sulfur and nitrogen species, phosphorus in marine environments occurs almost exclusively in the oxidation state -i-5. Thus, with few exceptions (Schink and Friedrich 2000), bacteria cannot gain energy by the oxidation of reduced phosphorus species and cannot use phosphate as an electron acceptor. Nevertheless, phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group to another compound, plays a major 

Sites of modern phosphogenesis Relict phosphorites at the sea floor Main coastal upwelling areas 

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