User:Juan Prieto/new sandbox

Original: User:Juan Prieto/sandbox

Iron Cycling
The cycling of iron due to viral infection of microorganisms (mostly heterotrophs and cyanobacteria) is hypothesized to be an important process in the maintenance of high-nutrient low chlorophyll (HNLC) marine environments. Iron is a limiting nutrient in most HNLC, so the viral shunt plays a key role in releasing assimilated iron back into the microbial loop. Dissolved iron usually binds with organic matter to form an organic-iron complex that enhances bioavailability of this nutrient to plankton. Some species of bacteria and diatoms are capable of high uptake rates of these organic-iron complexes. Continued viral activity by the viral shunt helps sustain growing ecosystems in iron-limited HNLC regions.

Synechococcus
Removing important heterotrophic organisms decreases the amount of nutrients released by viral infections. This decrease correlates with the decrease growth in phytoplankton and cyanobacteria.