The transit of organic matter (OM) through the aquatic compartment of its global cycle has been intensively studied, traditionally with a focus on the processing and degradation of its dissolved fraction (dissolved organic matter, DOM). Because this is so intimately related to oxidation, the notion tenaciously persists that where oxygen is absent, DOM turnover is markedly slowed. In this Opinion Piece, we outline how diverse processes shape, transform and degrade DOM also in anoxic aquatic environments, and we focus here on inland waters as a particular case study. A suite of biogeochemical DOM functions that have received comparatively little attention may only be expressed in anoxic conditions and may result in enhanced biogeochemical roles of these deoxygenated habitats on a network scale.
Keywords: biogeochemistry; carbon cycle; freshwater; microbial metabolism; oxygen.