Abstract 2254 The Importance of Protists and Viruses in Bacterial Mortality Across Anaerobic and Aerobic Environments in Siders Pond

Microbial interactions are fundamental to nutrient cycling, ecosystem stability, and population dynamics in aquatic environments, with bacteria driving processes like organic matter decomposition and nutrient release. These bacteria form critical links in the food web and interact with viruses and protists, shaping biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem productivity. This study examines the roles of protists and viruses in regulating bacterial mortality across aerobic (oxygen-rich) and anaerobic (oxygen-depleted) zones in Siders Pond, a salt-stratified meromictic pond in Falmouth, Massachusetts.