Enhanced Viral Activity in the Surface Microlayer of the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans
The ocean surface microlayer (SML), with physicochemical characteristics different from those of subsurface waters (SSW), results in dense and active viral and microbial communities that may favor virus–host interactions. Conversely, wind speed and/or UV radiation could adversely affect virus infect...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/317 |
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| author | Dolors Vaqué Julia A. Boras Jesús Maria Arrieta Susana Agustí Carlos M. Duarte Maria Montserrat Sala |
| author_facet | Dolors Vaqué Julia A. Boras Jesús Maria Arrieta Susana Agustí Carlos M. Duarte Maria Montserrat Sala |
| author_sort | Dolors Vaqué |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ocean surface microlayer (SML), with physicochemical characteristics different from those of subsurface waters (SSW), results in dense and active viral and microbial communities that may favor virus–host interactions. Conversely, wind speed and/or UV radiation could adversely affect virus infection. Furthermore, in polar regions, organic and inorganic nutrient inputs from melting ice may increase microbial activity in the SML. Since the role of viruses in the microbial food web of the SML is poorly understood in polar oceans, we aimed to study the impact of viruses on prokaryotic communities in the SML and in the SSW in Arctic and Antarctic waters. We hypothesized that a higher viral activity in the SML than in the SSW in both polar systems would be observed. We measured viral and prokaryote abundances, virus-mediated mortality on prokaryotes, heterotrophic and phototrophic nanoflagellate abundance, and environmental factors. In both polar zones, we found small differences in environmental factors between the SML and the SSW. In contrast, despite the adverse effect of wind, viral and prokaryote abundances and virus-mediated mortality on prokaryotes were higher in the SML than in the SSW. As a consequence, the higher carbon flux released by lysed cells in the SML than in the SSW would increase the pool of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and be rapidly used by other prokaryotes to grow (the viral shunt). Thus, our results suggest that viral activity greatly contributes to the functioning of the microbial food web in the SML, which could influence the biogeochemical cycles of the water column. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:45:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f055051e1ef2439c93ffa822c361dc7f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:45:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-f055051e1ef2439c93ffa822c361dc7f2023-12-03T12:21:53ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-02-019231710.3390/microorganisms9020317Enhanced Viral Activity in the Surface Microlayer of the Arctic and Antarctic OceansDolors Vaqué0Julia A. Boras1Jesús Maria Arrieta2Susana Agustí3Carlos M. Duarte4Maria Montserrat Sala5Institut de Ciències del Mar-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37–49, 08003 Barcelona, SpainInstitut de Ciències del Mar-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37–49, 08003 Barcelona, SpainCentro Oceanográfico de Canarias (Instituto Español de Oceanografía, IEO), Farola del Mar 22, Dársena Pesquera, 38180 Tenerife, SpainRed Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi ArabiaRed Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi ArabiaInstitut de Ciències del Mar-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37–49, 08003 Barcelona, SpainThe ocean surface microlayer (SML), with physicochemical characteristics different from those of subsurface waters (SSW), results in dense and active viral and microbial communities that may favor virus–host interactions. Conversely, wind speed and/or UV radiation could adversely affect virus infection. Furthermore, in polar regions, organic and inorganic nutrient inputs from melting ice may increase microbial activity in the SML. Since the role of viruses in the microbial food web of the SML is poorly understood in polar oceans, we aimed to study the impact of viruses on prokaryotic communities in the SML and in the SSW in Arctic and Antarctic waters. We hypothesized that a higher viral activity in the SML than in the SSW in both polar systems would be observed. We measured viral and prokaryote abundances, virus-mediated mortality on prokaryotes, heterotrophic and phototrophic nanoflagellate abundance, and environmental factors. In both polar zones, we found small differences in environmental factors between the SML and the SSW. In contrast, despite the adverse effect of wind, viral and prokaryote abundances and virus-mediated mortality on prokaryotes were higher in the SML than in the SSW. As a consequence, the higher carbon flux released by lysed cells in the SML than in the SSW would increase the pool of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and be rapidly used by other prokaryotes to grow (the viral shunt). Thus, our results suggest that viral activity greatly contributes to the functioning of the microbial food web in the SML, which could influence the biogeochemical cycles of the water column.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/317prokaryotesvirusesvirus-mediated mortalitysurface microlayersubsurface waterArctic and Antarctic Oceans |
| spellingShingle | Dolors Vaqué Julia A. Boras Jesús Maria Arrieta Susana Agustí Carlos M. Duarte Maria Montserrat Sala Enhanced Viral Activity in the Surface Microlayer of the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans Microorganisms prokaryotes viruses virus-mediated mortality surface microlayer subsurface water Arctic and Antarctic Oceans |
| title | Enhanced Viral Activity in the Surface Microlayer of the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans |
| title_full | Enhanced Viral Activity in the Surface Microlayer of the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans |
| title_fullStr | Enhanced Viral Activity in the Surface Microlayer of the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhanced Viral Activity in the Surface Microlayer of the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans |
| title_short | Enhanced Viral Activity in the Surface Microlayer of the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans |
| title_sort | enhanced viral activity in the surface microlayer of the arctic and antarctic oceans |
| topic | prokaryotes viruses virus-mediated mortality surface microlayer subsurface water Arctic and Antarctic Oceans |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/317 |
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