The process of anaerobic respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen and allows organisms to produce energy from glucose via fermentation. During anaerobic respiration, glucose is partially broken down to harvest energy, leading to the production of byproducts like lactic acid or ethanol, depending on the organism. While this process yields less energy compared to aerobic respiration, it provides a vital means of energy production for organisms in environments where oxygen is scarce, such as some bacteria and yeast.