UT Study Unveils Viral Influence on Ocean Oxygen Levels
A groundbreaking interdisciplinary study led by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the University of Maryland has revealed a fascinating connection between viral infection and ocean oxygen levels. The research, published in Nature Communications, showcases how viral activity in blue-green algae can significantly impact the ocean's ecosystem.
"Our planet is a microbial world, and viruses play a crucial role in this intricate process," explains Steven Wilhelm, the Kenneth and Blaire Mossman Professor at UT's Department of Microbiology and a senior author of the study. "Their activity is not solely about causing sickness; it also stimulates growth and production."
The study was conducted during a National Science Foundation research cruise to the Sargasso Sea, where Wilhelm served as the chief scientist. The team, comprising UT faculty, students, and collaborators from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Ohio State University, Technion Institute of Technology in Israel, and the University of Maryland, embarked on the Atlantic Explorer vessel in October 2019.
Their mission was to study the microbiology of the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study, a long-term project collecting ocean data for nearly four decades. The research focused on the cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and its viral infection, which releases nutrients that fuel microbial growth, resulting in higher oxygen levels in the water.
"This oxygen-rich band, extending several meters below the surface for several months annually, is at least partly driven by viral activity," Wilhelm notes. The study establishes a direct link between viral infection and the ocean's microbial loop, a critical component of the food web.
Joshua S. Weitz, a biology professor at the University of Maryland, emphasizes the significance of the findings. "By analyzing cellular and viral activity data, we can observe the impact of viral infections on the entire system. Viral infection enhances carbon and nutrient recycling, boosting productivity and shedding new light on historical trends linking viral activity and ecosystem functioning below the surface."
The study's lead author, Naomi Gilbert (PhD '22), and other UT authors, including Alison Buchan and Gary LeCleir, contributed to the research. The study was funded by the National Science Foundation and supported by the Simons Foundation. Wilhelm and Weitz will further explore these findings in The Conversation, inviting public engagement and discussion.
This groundbreaking research highlights the intricate relationship between viruses and the ocean's ecosystem, offering valuable insights into the microbial world's role in sustaining life in our oceans.
