Viruses in a deep oligotrophic sea: Seasonal distribution of marine viruses in the epi-, meso- and bathypelagic waters of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Marine viruses and their main hosts were studied in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Ionian, Libyan and Aegean Seas) during two sampling cruises (mixing and water column stratification periods). Samples were collected from the surface to 4000 m depth. Total abundance of viruses and prokaryotes was determined by Flow Cytometry (FCM). Viruses were separated into three groups according to their fluorescence signal. Viral abundance ranged from 1.2×105 viruses ml−1 to 2.7×107 viruses ml−1 and varied significantly between areas, depth zones and seasons. Prokaryotic cell abundance varied from 1.7×104 cells ml−1 to 1.5×106 cells ml−1 presenting a strong positive correlation with viral abundance. Stations and depths influenced by the Black Sea Water in the North Aegean Sea presented the highest values of viral abundance and Viruses to Prokaryotes Ratio (VPR). Vertical distributions of VPR were attributed to different water masses. The increased viral abundance and VPR values that were detected during the stratification period may be explained by the seasonal changes in prokaryotic cell characteristics (cell size, nucleic acid content). These significant seasonal distributions were also found below 1000 m indicating a possible viral activity in the bathypelagic ocean.