Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 12, 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
Viral Diversity Mediates Carbon Allocation for Ecosystem Multifunctionality Across Biomes
Sen Li1, Weigen Huang1,2, Bin Ma3
1State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.
Global Change Biology
|August 7, 2025
Summary
Lytic viruses dominate soil viral communities and significantly influence ecosystem function by altering carbon dynamics. This research highlights the crucial role of viruses, especially lytic types, in global carbon cycling and ecosystem stability.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Viral diversity is critical for ecosystem stability and biochemical cycles.
- The specific impact of viral survival strategies on ecosystem function is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of viral communities, particularly lytic viruses, in shaping soil ecosystem function.
- To determine how viral survival strategies influence carbon dynamics and ecosystem multifunctionality across diverse biomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1824 soil metagenomes from eight global biomes.
- Quantification of viral community composition, focusing on lytic and lysogenic viruses.
- Assessment of the impact of viral communities on soil organic carbon, microbial carbon pools, and ecosystem multifunctionality.
Main Results:
- Lytic viruses comprised 88% of viral communities, with Siphoviridae being the most abundant group.
- Viral communities significantly affected soil organic carbon dynamics.
- Microbial carbon use efficiency was the primary driver of ecosystem multifunctionality, modulated by viral communities, with lytic viruses having a more direct impact.
Conclusions:
- Viral communities, especially lytic viruses, play a pivotal role in global carbon dynamics and ecosystem function.
- Understanding viral impacts provides a new framework for carbon management strategies.
- Lytic viruses contribute more significantly to ecosystem multifunctionality than lysogenic viruses.
Keywords:
carbon use efficiencyecosystem multifunctionalitymicrobial necromass carbonsoil organic carbonsoil viromesviral life strategyMore Related Videos
11:12Protocols for Investigating the Host-tissue Distribution, Transmission-mode, and Effect on the Host Fitness of a Densovirus in the Cotton Bollworm
Published on: April 12, 2017
8.6K
11:23Purifying the Impure: Sequencing Metagenomes and Metatranscriptomes from Complex Animal-associated Samples
Published on: December 22, 2014
37.4K
Related Concept Videos
01:26Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
145
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
145
01:29Diversity of Archaea IV
108
Hyperthermophilic archaea are a group of extremophiles thriving at temperatures above 80°C, often in hydrothermal vents and volcanic soils where conditions surpass the boiling point of water. At such temperatures, proteins, membranes, and DNA in most organisms degrade, but hyperthermophiles have evolved remarkable adaptations to maintain stability and function.Unique Cellular FeaturesHyperthermophilic membranes are composed of a monolayer of biphytanyl tetraether lipids, which resist...
108
01:24Diversity of Archaea II
93
Archaea, one of the three domains of life, exhibit remarkable diversity and adaptability, thriving in both extreme and moderate environments. Historically, most identified archaea have been classified into two major phyla: Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. However, recent molecular studies have expanded this classification to include three additional phyla: Thaumarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Korarchaeota, each exhibiting unique characteristics and ecological roles.Thaumarchaeota: Mesophiles...
93
01:30Diversity of Archaea I
99
Archaea, a domain of single-celled microorganisms, are classified into five major phyla based on genetic and biochemical characteristics: Euryarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, Korarchaeota, and Nanoarchaeota. Among these, the phylum Euryarchaeota is notable for its remarkable diversity in morphology, metabolism, and ecological adaptations.Morphological and Metabolic DiversityMembers of Euryarchaeota exhibit a variety of cellular shapes, including rods and cocci. Their metabolic pathways...
99
01:50Threats to Biodiversity
22.9K
There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...
22.9K
01:27Diversity of Archaea III
74
Crenarchaeota, a prominent phylum of Archaea, is remarkable for its ability to thrive in extreme environments characterized by high temperatures and acidity. These microorganisms inhabit sulfuric hot springs, volcanic systems, and submarine hydrothermal vents, where temperatures often exceed 100°C. The unique adaptations of Crenarchaeota not only allow survival under such extreme conditions but also provide insights into the mechanisms of life in primordial Earth-like...
74