Effects of viral infection on phytoplankton motility costs and benefits

Quantify the energetic costs and ecological consequences of viral infection on phytoplankton motility, including changes in swimming or sinking speed, energy dissipation, sedimentation dynamics, and potential effects on mortality and bloom termination.

Background

The paper notes that viral infection can alter sinking speed (e.g., in Heterosigma akashiwo), potentially affecting defense, density, and aggregation, and thus particulate organic matter sedimentation.

Despite documented behavioral changes, the authors explicitly state that the costs and benefits of viral infection on motility remain unknown, calling for targeted quantification.