Viral Lysis Alters the Optical Properties and Biological Availability of Dissolved Organic Matter Derived from <i>Prochlorococcus</i> Picocyanobacteria
Xilin Xiao, Weidong Guo, Xiaolin Li, Chao Wang, Xiaowei Chen, Xingqin Lin, Markus G. Weinbauer, Qinglu Zeng, Nianzhi Jiao, Rui Zhang
Abstract
-released dissolved organic matter (DOM). Our paper shows that viral infection alters the optical properties (such as the absorption coefficients, spectral slopes, and fluorescence intensities) of released DOM and might contribute to a humic-like DOM pool and carbon sequestration in the ocean. Meanwhile, viral lysis also releases various intracellular labile DOM, including amino acids, protein-like DOM, and lower-molecular-weight DOM, increases the bioavailability of DOM, and shapes the successive trajectory of the heterotrophic bacterial community. Our study highlights the importance of viruses in impacting the DOM quality in the ocean.