Infection of phytoplankton by viruses and reduction of primary productivity
Suttle, C.A.; Chan, A.M.; Cottrell, M.T. (1990). Infection of phytoplankton by viruses and reduction of primary productivity. Nature (Lond.) 347(6292): 467-469
In: Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 0028-0836; e-ISSN 1476-4687, meer
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| Trefwoorden |
Biological production > Primary production
Chemical reactions > Photochemical reactions > Photosynthesis > Carbon fixation
Diseases > Infectious diseases > Viral diseases
Environments > Aquatic environment > Marine environment
Microorganisms > Viruses
Marien/Kust |
| Auteurs | | Top |
- Suttle, C.A.
- Chan, A.M.
- Cottrell, M.T.
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| Abstract |
Natural marine waters contain roughly 106 to 109 virus particles per ml, yet their role in aquatic ecosystems and the organisms that they infect remain largely unknown. Electron microscopy has been used to study interactions between viruses and their hosts, focusing mainly on pathogens to prokaryotic organisms. The authors demonstrate that viral pathogens infect a variety of important marine primary producers, including diatoms, cryptophytes, prasinophytes and chroococcoid cyanobacteria. Also, addition to sea water of particles in the 0.002-0.2 mu m size range, concentrated from sea water by ultrafiltration, reduced primary productivity ((14C)bicarbonate incorporation) by as much as 78%. Results indicate that in addition to grazing and nutrient limitation, infection by viruses could be a factor regulating phytoplankton community structure and primary productivity in the oceans. |
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