Aquatic Viruses and Climate Change.

Rui Zhang,Markus G Weinbauer,Peter Peduzzi

doi:10.21775/cimb.041.357

Abstract

The viral component in aquatic systems clearly needs to be incorporated into future ocean and inland water climate models. Viruses have the potential to influence carbon and nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems significantly. Changing climate likely has both direct and indirect influence on virus-mediated processes, among them an impact on food webs, biogeochemical cycles and on the overall metabolic performance of whole ecosystems. Here we synthesise current knowledge on potential climate-related consequences for viral assemblages, virus-host interactions and virus functions, and in turn, viral processes contributing to climate change. There is a need to increase the accuracy of predictions of climate change impacts on virus- driven processes, particularly of those linked to biological production and biogeochemical cycles. Comprehension of the relationships between microbial/viral processes and global phenomena is essential to predict the influence on as well as the response of the biosphere to global change.

Highlights

Whereas most human interventions on ecosystems are immediate, the impact on climate change acts over long periods of time, leading to slight but continuous alterations
In case salinity and particle load play a significant role in community composition, the predicted sea-level rise, saltwater and freshwater mixing and temperature changes associated with the present global climate change could influence the success of the dominant viral and host taxa
The growing knowledge on virus ecology of marine and inland water environments has increased the incorporation of virus-related processes into aquatic food web models

Summary

Introduction

Whereas most human interventions on ecosystems are immediate, the impact on climate change acts over long periods of time, leading to slight but continuous alterations. The present climate-related changes in environmental conditions (temperature, circulation of water masses, nutrient availability, alterations in system productivity, coastal mixing with freshwater, etc.) may significantly influence viral life strategies.

Results

Conclusion