Science. 1974 Sep 27;185(4157):1167-9. doi: 10.1126/science.185.4157.1167.
Methane in the interstitial waters of anoxic Long Island Sound sediments does not reach appreciable concentrations until about 90 percent of seawater sulfate is removed by sulfate-reducing bacteria. This is in agreement with laboratory studies of anoxic marine sediments sealed in jars, which indicate that methane production does not occur until dissolved sulfate is totally exhausted. Upward diffusion of methane or its production in sulfate-free microenvironments, or both, can explain the observed coexistence of measurable concentrations of methane and sulfate in the upper portions of anoxic sediments.
在缺氧的长岛海峡沉积物的间隙水中，甲烷的浓度直到大约 90%的海水硫酸盐被硫酸盐还原菌去除后才会达到可观的浓度。这与在密封罐中进行的缺氧海洋沉积物的实验室研究结果一致，这些研究表明，只有当溶解的硫酸盐完全耗尽时，才会发生甲烷的产生。甲烷的向上扩散或在无硫酸盐的微环境中产生甲烷，或者两者兼而有之，可以解释在缺氧沉积物的上部区域中观察到的甲烷和硫酸盐的可测量浓度的共存现象。
