Advances of ecological roles in marine benthic viruses

Viruses are the most abundant life forms on the earth and widely distributed in various environments including the deep biosphere. Viruses infect microbial hosts and affect their physiological characteristics, ecological processes and biogeochemical cycles. Recently, the latest results have shown that viral lysis is the main driver for the death of benthic prokaryotes. These findings have attracted extensive attention of researchers on benthic viruses. In order to have a comprehensive understanding the ecological roles of benthic viruses, we summarized the important findings in viral ecological features (distribution, abundance, biodiversity, and lifestyle), dynamics and impact factors, interactions with the host and viral ecological effects in the carbon cycle. Meanwhile, the future research directions of benthic viruses in biology, ecology and biogeochemistry field were also prospected. The aim of this review is to enhance the understanding of the ecological role in benthic viruses and provide reference for the development of benthic viral ecology and its related disciplines.