Shift from Carbon Flow through the Microbial Loop to the Viral Shunt in Coastal Antarctic Waters during Austral Summer

The relative flow of carbon through the viral shunt and microbial loop is a pivotal factor controlling contribution secondary production to food web rates nutrient remineralization respiration. current study examines significance these processes in coastal waters Antarctic during productive austral summer months. Throughout general trend towards lower bacterioplankton heterotrophic nanoflagellate (HNF) abundances was observed, whereas virioplankton concentration increased. A corresponding decline HNF grazing shift production, indicative infection, measured. Carbon mediated by decreased more than half from 5.7 µg C L−1 day−1 on average December January 2.4 February. Conversely, increased substantially over 0.9 7.6 This shows that functioning community varied considerably In early summer, system favors transfer matter energy higher trophic levels via loop, however end redirected shunt, causing switch recycling therefore respiration regeneration.