DYNAMICS OF VIRUS ABUNDANCE IN COASTAL SEAWATER

The short term dynamics of virus abundance in coastal sea water was in vestigated by frequent sampling of open ecosystems and of water incuba ted in bottles in situ, Sampling intervals were 6-10 min. The viral ab undance showed significant temporal fluctuations both in situ and in t he bottles and it changed in some cases by a factor of 2-4 within 10-2 0 min. Laboratory incubations showed that production and release of vi ruses were not induced or stimulated by nutrient addition, high light intensities or transient increase in temperatures ca. 10 degrees C, Ou r interpretation of these results is that they result from synchronous lysis and release of virus particles from bacterial hosts and a rapid disintegration of these particles when released in sea water.