Microbial and viral succession after soil rewetting: links to carbon sequestration

Viruses have a significant effect on dissolved organic carbon stocks in marine environments, but in soil the activity of viruses is understudied. However, much of the carbon buried in soil comprises of microbial necromass, implying a potential link between viral predation on the soil microbiome and carbon sequestration. I will present results from rewetting experiments showing unexpected patterns of viral community succession, and introduce my current work which aims to link viral activity in soil to carbon sequestration.