Netherlands Polar Data Center

Samples were collected during the ANTXIV/3 cruise (February - April 2008) in the Southern Ocean on board RV Polarstern. Three transects were completed of the Greenwich Meridian, Weddell Sea and the Drake Passage to examine spatial variation in an area between -70.6 °S to -37.0 °S and 140 °E to -65.5 °E. Abundances of algae, bacteria and viruses were measured using flow cytometry and viral production was determined by an incubation based method. A dilution method was also used to determine grazing and viral lysis of the algae and bacterial production was measured using radio labelled leucine incorporation.

The purpose of the data set was to examine the distribution and activity of viruses throughout a diverse range of southern ocean microbial communities. Viral activity was also placed into the context by examining growth rate and grazing of their primary microbial hosts; phytoplankton and bacteria.