General Information: Common environmental anaerobe. The genus Pelobacter encompasses a unique group of fermentative microorganisms in the delta-proteobacteria. This species is ubiquitous in both marine and fresh water, and in anaerobic sedmiments. It is able to convert the unsaturated hydrocarbon acetylene to to acetate and ethanol via acetylaldehyde as an intermediate. These microorganisms may survive in some sediments as an Fe(III) or elemental sulfur reducer as well as growing fermentatively as an ethanol-oxidizing acetogen.