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Updated: Aug 27, 2025
10:43
Unraveling the Unseen Players in the Ocean - A Field Guide to Water Chemistry and Marine Microbiology
Published on: November 5, 2014
25.8K
[The viriosphere: which importance in the functioning and evolution of aquatic ecosystems?]
Lyria Berdjeb1, Stéphan Jacquet1
1Inra, UMR CARRTEL, Station d'hydrobiologie lacustre, Équipe BioFEEL, 75, avenue de Corzent, 74203 Thonon-les-Bains Cedex.
Virologie (Montrouge, France)
|September 24, 2022
Summary
Aquatic viruses, primarily bacteriophages, are abundant and dynamic, significantly impacting microbial mortality and bacterial diversity. Their role in biogeochemical cycles, like carbon release, is crucial for ocean functioning.
Area of Science:
- Aquatic microbiology
- Viral ecology
Context:
- Aquatic ecosystems harbor an estimated 10^30 viruses, predominantly bacteriophages infecting prokaryotes.
- Aquatic viral ecology is an emerging field with significant knowledge gaps in marine and limnetic systems.
Purpose:
- To review the abundance, dynamics, diversity, and ecological roles of aquatic viruses.
- To highlight viruses as key drivers of microbial mortality and biogeochemical cycles.
Summary:
- Viruses are estimated at 10^7 per mL in aquatic environments, with daily ocean infections reaching 10^29.
- Viral lysis is a primary cause of microbial mortality and influences bacterial community structure and diversification.
- Viruses significantly contribute to global biogeochemical cycles, releasing an estimated 10^9 tons of carbon daily.
Impact:
- Understanding aquatic viruses is vital for comprehending ocean functioning, microbial dynamics, and evolution.
- Viruses play a critical role in regulating microbial populations and nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems.
- Research into aquatic viruses offers insights for therapeutic agent discovery and ecosystem modeling.
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