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Seasonal Depth-Related Gradients in Virioplankton: Standing Stock and Relationships with Microbial Communities in Lake Pavin (France)

  • Environmental Microbiology
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Abstract

This study presents a depth-related survey of virioplankton abundance in Lake Pavin (Massif Central, France), in relation to the abundances of heterotrophic prokaryotes, picocyanobacteria (Pcy), autotrophic picoeukaryotes (Peu), and of autotrophic (ANF) and heterotrophic (HNF) nanoflagellates. The sampling strategy was designed to be representative of the physico-chemical gradients of the whole water column of the lake, and the seasonal variability as well. In mixolimnic surface waters, all communities were present and viral abundance peaked in summer and autumn. Viral abundance was significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with Pcy, Peu, and ANF, indicating that cyanophages and perhaps other phytoplankton viruses represent a significant pool of viral standing stocks in the mixolimnion of Lake Pavin. Microautotrophs were absent in the deep monimolimnic water masses, where viruses and heterotrophic prokaryotes exhibited highest seasonal abundances in summer and/or autumn and were significantly correlated (p < 0.001) to each other. This indicates that the anoxic monimolimnion of Lake Pavin is an exclusive habitat for viruses and heterotrophic prokaryotes. We conclude that in this habitat, host availability is prevalent over other factors (temperature, oxygen, nutrients, grazers) in favoring viral proliferation.

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Acknowledgments

JC was supported by a PhD Fellowship from the Grand Duché du Luxembourg (Ministry of Culture, High School, and Research), and AR by a postdoctoral fellowship from CNRS. We appreciate the corrections of Dr. Pradeep Ram AS and the comments of anonymous reviewers which improved this paper. The study was partly supported by the French National Programs ACI/FNS “ECCO” (VIRULAC) and ANR Biodiversité (AQUAPHAGE).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LMGE, Laboratoire Microorganismes Génome & Environnement, UMR CNRS 6023, Université Blaise Pascal (Clermont-Ferrand II), 63177, Aubière Cedex, France

    J. Colombet, M. Charpin, A. Robin, C. Portelli, C. Amblard & T. Sime-Ngando

  2. CRP-Gabriel Lippmann, Cellule de Recherche en Environnement et Biotechnologies, 162a Avenue de la Faïencerie, 1511, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    H. M. Cauchie

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  1. J. Colombet
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  2. M. Charpin
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  3. A. Robin
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  4. C. Portelli
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  5. C. Amblard
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  6. H. M. Cauchie
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  7. T. Sime-Ngando
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Correspondence to T. Sime-Ngando.

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Colombet, J., Charpin, M., Robin, A. et al. Seasonal Depth-Related Gradients in Virioplankton: Standing Stock and Relationships with Microbial Communities in Lake Pavin (France). Microb Ecol 58, 728–736 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-009-9535-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-009-9535-7

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