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Viral lysis and nanoflagellate grazing on prokaryotes: effects of short-term warming in a coastal subtropical marine system

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Abstract

Although temperature is a key parameter in the control of the activity and growth of all microorganisms, little is known about how temperature might simultaneously affect viral lysis and nanoflagellate grazing on prokaryotes. This study investigated the effect of rising temperatures on nanoflagellate grazing, viral lysis, and prokaryotic growth in coastal waters of the western subtropical Pacific Ocean during winter (<25°C) and summer (>25°C) in 2013. To do this, water samples were incubated for 24 h at ambient and experimentally increased temperatures (averages 2–3°C higher than in situ values) and analyzed for prokaryotic gross growth, grazing, and viral lysis using a modified dilution method. The experimental warming conditions were found to cause an increase in prokaryotic gross growth rates in the winter and summer season, respectively. Although the experimental warming conditions also caused an increase in the average rate at which prokaryotes were being grazed, they also caused a general decrease in viral lysis during summer. These findings suggest that short-term warming influenced the function of the microbial food web by increasing the rates of prokaryotic production and flux in prokaryotic carbon to predators.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant (NSC 101-2611-M-019-009) from the National Science Council, ROC. We are most grateful to Mr. James Steed for his suggestions regarding the presentation of material and language editing of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 202-24, Taiwan, ROC

    An Yi Tsai, Gwo-Ching Gong & Wei Shiau

  2. Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 202-24, Taiwan, ROC

    Gwo-Ching Gong

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  1. An Yi Tsai
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Correspondence to An Yi Tsai.

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Tsai, A.Y., Gong, GC. & Shiau, W. Viral lysis and nanoflagellate grazing on prokaryotes: effects of short-term warming in a coastal subtropical marine system. Hydrobiologia 751, 43–54 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2170-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2170-4

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