The Role of Viruses in Structure and Functioning of Microbial Communities in Freshwater Ecosystems

Abstract

The role of viruses in structure and functioning of microbial communities of plankton, epiphyton and benthos in freshwater ecosystems is discussed. The analysis of own and published data demonstrates that viruses are stable and numerous component of trophic webs in the water column, dense stands of higher aquatic vegetation, and bottom sediments in fresh water bodies. Plankton viruses play a crucial role in regulation of abundance and species diversity of prokaryotic microorganisms. In epiphyton of freshwater macrophytes, the number of infected microorganisms and their mortality caused by virusesinduced lysis were lower than in plankton microorganisms. In freshwater benthos, low infection of bacteria by bacteriophages (in some publications close to zero) at high abundances of viriobenthos testifies to the insignificant role of viruses in mortality of benthic prokaryotic microorganisms

Keywords

• viruses
• viruses`s lysis
• heterotrophic bacteria
• picocyanobacteria
• microbial communities
• freshwater ecosystems