Viral life strategies in a heavily anthropized tropical lagoon.

Abstract

Ecological traits of aquatic microorganisms have been poorly investigated in tropical latitudes, especially in lagoons, which are often subjected to strong anthropogenic influence, conducive to microbial development. In this study, we examined the abundance of both viral and bacterial communities, as well as their interactions (lytic and lysogenic infections) in the water and sediment of seven main stations of the Ebrié Lagoon (Ivory Coast) with contrasting levels of eutrophication. The highest bacterial and viral concentrations in both planktonic and benthic samples were found in the most eutrophicated stations, where viral lytic infections also exhibited their highest values. Conversely, the highest fractions of inducible lysogens were measured in the most oligotrophic stations, suggesting that these two main viral life strategies are mutually exclusive in this lagoon. Our findings also revealed the importance that nutrients (especially ammonium) play as drivers of the interactions between viruses and their bacterial hosts in tropical lagoons.