Unveiling Ecological and Genetic Novelty within Lytic and Lysogenic Viral Communities of Hot Spring Phototrophic Microbial Mats

Abstract

Hot springs harbor microbial communities dominated by a limited variety of microorganisms and, as such, have become a model for studying community ecology and understanding how biotic and abiotic interactions shape their structure. Viruses in hot springs are shown to be ubiquitous, numerous, and active components of these communities.