title: Viruses as Winners in the Game of Life.
abstract: Viruses are the most abundant and the most diverse life form. In this meta-analysis we estimate that there are 4.80×1031phages on Earth. Further, 97% of viruses are in soil and sediment-two underinvestigated biomes that combined account for only ∼2.5% of publicly available viral metagenomes. The majority of the most abundant viral sequences from all biomes are novel. Our analysis drawing on all publicly available viral metagenomes observed a mere 257,698 viral genotypes on Earth-an unrealistically low number-which attests to the current paucity of viral metagenomic data. Further advances in viral ecology and diversity call for a shift of attention to previously ignored major biomes and careful application of verified methods for viral metagenomic analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182; email: frohwer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Georgina
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cobián Güemes
authors.affiliation: Rainbow Rock, Captain Cook, Hawaii 96704.
authors.forename: Merry
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Youle
authors.affiliation: Computational Sciences Research Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182.
authors.forename: Vito Adrian
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Cantú
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Felts
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nulton
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182; email: frohwer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Forest
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rohwer
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000821:virology*; D054892:Metagenome / Q000235:genetics*; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D012988:Soil Microbiology
keywords: biogeography; metagenomics; phage abundance; phage diversity; phage ecology; viruses