Tracking a new ecological connection between appendicularians and marine viruses

Researchers at NORCE are tracking a new ecological connection between appendicularians and marine viruses.

In the fjords outside Bergen, they are catching appendicularians for their experiment. It's at this time of year that they find them in large quantities, which is why the researchers are looking for them now.

These appendicularians are small organisms that are part of the microbial food web. All fish and larger organisms we use for food depend on this system, which is why it is interesting to research the possible connection between appendicularians and marine viruses.

Watch the entire film below.

The film shows activities from the research projects VIROVAC (link) and AEGIS (link).

The film is produced by Warholm Film AS warholmfilm.no © in collaboration with NORCE.

The researchers found that appendicularians were able to eat all of the large viruses they tested, and that there was infectious virus in their fecal pellets. Out in the fjords around Bergen, they also found infectious viruses in the sediments, suggesting this mechanism might be how the viruses are making it down to the seafloor.