Concentration in sea water

Range >10^8 viruses/mL
Organism Virus
Reference Weynberg KD, Allen MJ, Wilson WH. Marine Prasinoviruses and Their Tiny Plankton Hosts: A Review. Viruses. 2017 Mar 15 9(3). pii: E43. doi: 10.3390/v9030043. p.1 2nd paragraphPubMed ID28294997
Primary Source [1] Bergh O, Børsheim KY, Bratbak G, Heldal M. High abundance of viruses found in aquatic environments. Nature. 1989 Aug 10 340(6233):467-8. DOI: 10.1038/340467a0 [2] Wigington CH et al., Re-examination of the relationship between marine virus and microbial cell abundances. Nat Microbiol. 2016 Jan 25 1 :15024. doi: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2015.24.PubMed ID2755508, 27572161
Comments P.1 2nd paragraph: "Viruses are the most diverse and abundant biological entities in the world’s oceans, with estimates often reaching in excess of 10^8 viruses per millilitre (mL) of seawater [primary sources]. The advent of techniques such as epifluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry initially helped to reveal the sheer abundance of viruses in the world’s ocean, and allowed the ‘viral shunt’ to be incorporated into the classic food web scenario [refs 3,4,5,6]. Building on these observations, isolation, molecular and physiological studies have shown that marine viruses exert a great influence on nutrient and energy cycling, biogeochemistry, population dynamics, genetic exchange and evolution in the marine environment [refs 4,5]."
Entered by Uri M
ID 113508