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Viruses and the microbial loop

  • Controls of the Microbial Loop: Biotic Factors
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Abstract

The abundance of viral-like particles in marine ecosystems ranges from <104 ml−1 to >108 ml−1. Their distribution in time and space parallels that of other biological parameters such as bacterial abundance and chlorophyll a. There is a lack of consensus between methods used to assess viral activity, i.e., rate of change in viral abundance (increase or decrease). The highest rates, 10–100 days−1, are observed in experiments with short sampling intervals (0.2–2 h), while lower rates, on the order of 1 day−1, are observed in experiments with longer sampling intervals (days). Few studies have been carried out, but viruses appear, at least in some cases, to have a significant impact on carbon and nutrient flow in microbial food webs. Viruses have also been demonstrated to exert a species specific control of both bacteria and phytoplankton populations in natural waters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Bergen, Jahnebakken 5, N-5020, Bergen, Norway

    G. Bratbak, F. Thingstad & M. Heldal

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  1. G. Bratbak
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  2. F. Thingstad
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  3. M. Heldal
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Bratbak, G., Thingstad, F. & Heldal, M. Viruses and the microbial loop. Microb Ecol 28, 209–221 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00166811

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