Guixa-Boixereu, Nuria, Dolors Vaque, Josep M. Gasol, Jamie Sanchez-Camara, and
     Carlos Pedros-Alio. 2002. Viral distribution and activity in Antarctic
     waters. Deep-Sea Research II, 49: 827-845.

Spatial Coverage:  Antarctic Ocean

Temporal Coverage:  December 4, 1995 - February 3, 1996

Language:  English

Abstract:  Variability in abundance of virus-like particles (VLP), VLP decay
     rates and prokaryotic mortality due to viral infection were determined in
     three Antarctic areas:  Bellingshausen Sea, Bransfiled Strait and Gerlache
     Strait, during December 1995 and February 1996.  VLP abundance showed very
     small spatial variability in the three areas (7 X 10^6 - 2 X 10^7 VLP/ml).
     VLP abundance, on the other hand, decreased one order of magnitude from
     the surface to the bottom, in two stations where deep vertical profiles
     were sampled.  Low seasonal variability in VLP abundance was found when
     comparing each area separatly.  Diel VLP variability was also very low.
     VLP abundance showed the lowest values when solar irradiation was maximal,
     in two of the three stations where diel cycles were examined.  Viral decay
     rates (VDR) were determined using KCN in two kinds of experiments.
     Prokaryotic mortality due to viral ifection was always higher than that
     due to bacterivores in the stations where both factors of prokaryotic
     mortality were measured.  Viral infection accounted for all the
     prokaryotic heterotrophic production in Bellingshausen Sea adn Gerlache
     Strait and for half of the prokaryotic heterotrophic production in
     Bransfield Strait.  These high values of prokaryotic mortality due to
     viral infection are difficult to reconcile in nature, and more work is
     necessary to determine the mechanisms involved in the disappearance of
     viruses.

Departament de Biologia Marina i Oceanografia, Institut de Cincies del Mar (CMIMA, CSIC), Passeig Martin de la Burceloneta, E 08003, Barcelona, Spain