Virus production in shallow groundwater at the bank of the Danube River

Abstract

Viruses play a crucial role in regulating prokaryotic populations, yet their impact on subsurface environments, specifically groundwater habitats, remains poorly understood. In this study, we employed the virus-dilution approach to measure lytic virus production rates in shallow groundwater located near the city of Vienna (Austria) during the period from July−November 2020. Physico-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, water temperature, concentration of dissolved oxygen), prokaryotic, and viral abundance, and viral decay rates were monitored as well. Our findings revealed low virus-to-prokaryote ratios varying between 0.9−3.9 throughout the study period and a lack of correlation between prokaryotic and viral abundance in groundwater. Virus production rates varied between 9−12% of viral abundance h-1 in July−August and between 34−36% of viral abundance h-1 in October−November. Seasonal variations in virus production rates were found to be correlated with electrical conductivity, revealing ~3.5 times higher virus production rates during periods with high electrical conductivity and low groundwater recharge in October−November compared to July−August with higher groundwater recharge and lower electrical conductivity. Our data indicate that groundwater recharge disrupts the balance between virus and prokaryotic host communities, resulting in a deficiency of suitable prokaryotic host cells for viral proliferation.