Aquatic viruses: the greatest reservoir of genetic diversity and drivers of global processes

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At abundances of 1 to 100 million per mL, viruses are by far the most numerous "lifeforms" in aquatic systems; if placed end-to-end, viruses in the sea would stretch farther than the nearest 60 galaxies. They are major agents of mortality and are responsible for killing about 20% of the living material, by weight, each day in the world's oceans. Consequently, they are important drivers of biogeochemical cycling and play an important role in structuring planktonic communities. In addition to their ecological and geochemical importance, viruses are by far the largest reservoir of unknown genetic diversity in aquatic systems. The research outlined in this proposal is focused on understanding and quantifying the impact of viruses on marine planktonic systems, and characterizing their enormous genetic and biological diversity. Specifically, we will characterize unusual virus isolates, examine the genetic diversity and distribution of a number of recently discovered virus groups, determine the occurrence of viruses in zooplankton populations and determine the importance of viruses in the recycling of nitrogen. Collectively, this research will lead to major advances in our understanding of aquatic viruses, their genetic diversity and role in nutrient recycling.