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Related Experiment Video

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Estimating Virus Production Rates in Aquatic Systems
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Virus decomposition provides an important contribution to benthic deep-sea ecosystem functioning.

Antonio Dell'Anno1, Cinzia Corinaldesi2, Roberto Danovaro3

  • 1Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; and a.dellanno@univpm.it.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|April 8, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Deep-sea viruses decompose rapidly, releasing significant carbon and nutrients. This viral decomposition is a crucial, previously overlooked process in marine ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling.

Keywords:
deep-sea ecosystemsecosystem functioningvirus–prokaryote interactions

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Area of Science:

  • Marine microbiology
  • Deep-sea ecology
  • Biogeochemical cycles

Background:

  • Viruses are major drivers of prokaryotic mortality in oceans, especially in deep-sea environments.
  • The role of viral particle decomposition in benthic deep-sea ecosystem functioning is largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the decomposition rates of viruses in deep-sea sediments.
  • To assess the contribution of viral decomposition to carbon and nutrient cycling in deep-sea ecosystems.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized various independent approaches to study virus decomposition in deep-sea sediments.
  • Measured virus decomposition rates at abyssal depths.
  • Identified extracellular enzymatic activities as key drivers of viral decomposition.

Main Results:

  • A significant fraction of viruses undergo rapid decomposition in deep-sea sediments.
  • Virus decomposition rates are high, even at abyssal depths.
  • Global viral decomposition releases an estimated 37-50 megatons of carbon annually.
  • Decomposed viral organic matter provides a substantial input of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus to deep-sea ecosystems.

Conclusions:

  • Viral decomposition is a significant and previously unrecognized source of labile organic matter in deep-sea ecosystems.
  • This process plays a critical role in nutrient cycling within the global deep-sea biosphere.
  • Understanding viral decomposition is essential for comprehending deep-sea ecosystem functioning.