Virioplankton distribution in the tropical western Pacific Ocean in the vicinity of a seamount

The abundance and distribution of virioplankton were investigated in the Caroline seamount of Western Pacific. Three to four distinct viral subclusters with similar side scatter but different green fluorescence intensity were identified. The interactions of shallow seamount and local current could sustain a significant enhancement of virus standing stock, causing a so ‐called “seamount effect” for virioplankton. AbstractThe shallow Caroline Seamount is located in the tropical western Pacific Ocean. Its summit is 57  m below the surface and penetrates the euphotic zone. Therefore, it is ideal for the study of the influence of seamount on plankton distribution. Here, virioplankton abundance and distribution were investigated by flow cytometry (FCM) in the Caroline Seamount in August and September 2017. The tota l abundance of virus‐like particles (VLP) was in the range of 0.64 × 106–18.77 × 106 particles/ml and the average was 5.37 ± 3.75 × 106 particles/ml. Three to four distinct viral subclusters with similar side scatter but different green fluorescence intensities were identified. Above the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM), two medium fluorescence virus (MFV) subclusters were discriminated. Between the DCM and the deeper layers, only o ne MFV subcluster was resolved. In general, low fluorescence viruses (LFV) comprised the most abundant subclusters. In the 75–150 m water column, however, the MFV abundance was higher than the LFV abundance. High flu...
Source: MicrobiologyOpen - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research