Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/10773/29773
Title: | Fungi and viruses as important players in microbial mats |
Author: | Carreira, Cátia Lønborg, Christian Kühl, Michael Lillebø, Ana I. Sandaa, Ruth-Anne Villanueva, Laura Cruz, Sónia |
Keywords: | Microbial mats Fungi Virus Microbial food web |
Issue Date: | 28-Oct-2020 |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Abstract: | Microbial mats are compacted, surface-associated microbial ecosystems reminiscent of the first living communities on early Earth. While often considered predominantly prokaryotic, recent findings show that both fungi and viruses are ubiquitous in microbial mats, albeit their functional roles remain unknown. Fungal research has mostly focused on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems where fungi are known as important recyclers of organic matter, whereas viruses are exceptionally abundant and important in aquatic ecosystems. Here, viruses have shown to affect organic matter cycling and the diversity of microbial communities by facilitating horizontal gene transfer and cell lysis. We hypothesise fungi and viruses to have similar roles in microbial mats. Based on the analysis of previous research in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, we outline novel hypotheses proposing strong impacts of fungi and viruses on element cycling, food web structure and function in microbial mats, and outline experimental approaches for studies needed to understand these interactions. |
Peer review: | yes |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10773/29773 |
DOI: | 10.1093/femsec/fiaa187 |
ISSN: | 0168-6496 |
Appears in Collections: | CESAM - Artigos DBio - Artigos |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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Carreira.etal.2020.FEMSMicrobiolEcol.96(11).pdf | 4.07 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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