This research investigated new approaches to control anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to sulfate reduction (AOM-SR) and enrich anaerobic methanotrophs (ANME) and sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) with the purpose of designing a suitable bioreactor for AOM-SR at ambient pressure and temperature. The current knowledge about AOM and the microorganisms involved in AOM are discussed. The effect of different substrates and pressures was investigated on the ANME and SRB community adapted to the shallow marine Lake Grevelingen, the Netherlands. Further, microorganisms from the Alpha Mound (Spain)...