Sampling was conducted during the R/V Meteor cruise M74/2, on 7th to 28th October 2007, in the Arabian Sea over the Pakistan shelf. Four stations ranging from 360 to 1430 m were selected for detailed sampling and sediment incubations. Dissolved oxygen and temperature of the water column were measured with a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) probe, equipped with an oxygen sensor (Sea Bird Electronics). The oxygen concentration was calibrated against Winkler titration.