Viruses in the marine environment

S koncentracijom u rasponu od 107 čestica po mililitru površinske morske vode, virusi su najbrojnija skupina mikroorganizama u morskom okolišu. Virusi inficiraju sva živa bića, od prokariota do velikih sisavaca poput kitova. Virusi značajno utječu na brojnost i sastav bakterija, ali i fitoplanktonskih vrsta uslijed čega mogu utjecati na biogeokemijske cikluse. Lizijom bakterijskih stanica otpuštaju se otopljene organske tvari koje postaju ponovno dostupne ostalim organizmima. Nadalje, virusi sudjeluju u horizontalnom prijenosu gena među bakterijskim populacijama. Morski virusi također predstavljaju najveći spremnik genetičkog materijala u oceanima te značajno pridonose biološkoj raznolikost.Viruses are the most numerous group of microorganisms in the marine environment, with a concentration ranging from 107 particles per millilitre of surface water. Viruses infect all living creatures, from prokaryotes to large mammals such as whales. Viruses significantly affect the abundance and composition of bacteria, but also phytoplankton, which can affect biogeochemical cycles. Through lysis of bacterial cells, the dissolved organic matter is released, and it becomes re-available to other organisms for use. Furthermore, viruses participate in the horizontal transmission of genes among bacterial populations. Marine viruses also represent the largest reservoir of oceanic genetic material and significantly contribute biodiversity