PHYVIR

Resolving marine phytoplankton–virus interactions from local to global scales.

Phytoplankton, the microscopic plants of the ocean, produce roughly half of the oxygen on Earth, take up large amounts of CO₂, and feed marine food webs. They are also infected by viruses. How much those infections shape ocean productivity and carbon and nutrient cycling is still poorly known. PHYVIR combines laboratory experiments, an Atlantic Ocean expedition and global ecosystem models to close that gap.

Project leader

Prof. Corina Brussaard

Duration

2025 – 2030

Funding

NWO XL, €3.1 M

Partners

NIOZ · UvA-IBED · NIOO-KNAW · RUG

Explore

• The project: the knowledge gap and the five objectives.
• Expedition: the first PHYVIR cruise, Cape Verde to Iceland, aboard RV Anna Weber-van Bosse.
• Team: researchers, consortium members and students.
• Publications: related scientific output.