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High viral infection rates in Antarctic and Arctic bacterioplankton
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 22:02 authored by Sawstrom, C, Graneli, W, Laybourn-Parry, J, Anesio, AMThe frequency of visibly phage-infected bacterial cells (FVIB) and the average number of phages per cell [i.e. burst size (BS)] were determined in Antarctic and Arctic ultra-oligotrophic freshwater environments. Water samples were collected from two Antarctic freshwater lakes and cryoconite holes from a glacier in the Arctic. Data from this bipolar study show the highest FVIB (average 26.1%, range 5.1% to 66.7%) and the lowest BS (average 4, range 2–15) ever reported in the literature. The bacterial density is low in these ultra-oligotrophic freshwater environments but a large proportion of the bacteria are visibly infected. Our results suggest that a constant virioplankton population can be maintained in these extreme environments even though host density is low and often slow growing.
History
Publication title
Environmental MicrobiologyVolume
9Pagination
250-255ISSN
1462-2912Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing LtdPlace of publication
United KingdomRights statement
The definitive published version is available online at: http://interscience.wiley.comRepository Status
- Restricted