Roles and genetic diversity of viral communities in marine ecosystems

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It has become increasingly clear that viruses are major drivers of global biogeochemical cycles and represent the greatest genetic diversity on Earth. The proposed research directly examines the spatial variability and genetic diversity of viruses, their effect on the mortality of phytoplankton and bacteria, and the consequent role of viral lysis on biogeochemical processes in the ocean. We will continue to explore the diversity and abundance of viruses that infect zooplankton, a critical link in aquatic foodwebs. These investigations will enhance our understanding of viral distribution and diversity, virus-host interactions, and viral mediated nutrient regeneration. This knowledge can result in the synthesis of more accurate models of the role of viruses within marine ecosystems, which in turn can affect marine management issues such as estimation of fisheries productivity, remediation of harmful algal blooms, and assessment of aquatic ecosystem health.