We completed a transect through the Western Pacific Warm Pool to examine how environmental variables may influence viral and bacterial abundance and production rates in this globally important oceanic region. Of the variables analyzed, viral abundance and production had the most significant relationship to bacterial cell abundance: viral parameters were not significantly correlated to the measured environmental variables, including temperature. Collectively, our observations suggest that seemingly similar oceanic regions may have very different microbial community responses to environmental variables.
Rowe JM, DeBruyn JM, Poorvin L, LeCleir GR, Johnson ZI, Zinser ER and Wilhelm SR (2011) Viral and bacterial abundance and production in the Western pacific Ocean and the relation to other oceanic realms. FEMS Microbiology Ecology DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01223.x