Viruses in Soil Ecosystems: An Unknown Quantity Within an Unexplored Territory
Kurt E Williamson1, Jeffry J Fuhrmann2, K Eric Wommack2,3,4
1Biology Department, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185;
Annual Review of Virology
|September 30, 2017
Summary
Soil viruses are abundant and diverse, influenced by water and temperature. Understanding their impact on soil ecosystems and services requires further research due to limited data and analytical standards.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Soil science
- Virology
Background:
- Soil viral abundance varies greatly, from deserts to wetlands, influenced by water and temperature.
- Lack of standardized methods hinders cross-study analysis of soil viromes.
- Soil viral diversity is underestimated, though richness may exceed aquatic ecosystems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of soil viral abundance, diversity, and ecological roles.
- To highlight knowledge gaps and challenges in soil virome research.
- To emphasize the need for further empirical data on viral impacts on soil ecosystem services.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on soil virology.
- Analysis of data on viral abundance and diversity metrics.
- Discussion of morphometric and metagenomic findings.
Main Results:
- Soil viral abundance is highly variable and linked to environmental factors like water availability and temperature.
- Current data suggest higher viral richness in soils compared to aquatic environments.
- Questions exist regarding the prevalence of specific virus types, such as nontailed ssDNA viruses, in soils.
Conclusions:
- The ecological significance of soil viruses remains poorly understood.
- Further empirical research is crucial to elucidate the roles of viruses in soil nutrient cycling, food webs, and gene transfer.
- Standardization of methods and increased data collection are necessary to advance soil virome research.
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