How do bacteria and viruses impact the ocean ecosystem?

Bacteria and viruses play an important role in the ocean ecosystem, both as primary producers and as decomposers of organic matter. Bacteria are the most numerous organisms in the ocean and are involved in many biogeochemical cycles, such as the carbon cycle, which affects the climate. Some bacteria also have mutualistic relationships with other organisms, such as in the case of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria which provide essential nutrients to marine plants.

Viruses, on the other hand, are not considered living organisms, but they are extremely abundant and diverse in the ocean, and they can have significant impacts on marine ecosystems. They infect a wide range of marine organisms, including bacteria, algae, and zooplankton, and can cause diseases and mortality in these organisms, which can have cascading effects on the food web and ecosystem functioning. However, viruses can also play a positive role in the ecosystem by regulating the abundance of their hosts and influencing nutrient cycling through their lysis of infected cells.