Viruses of Aquatic Invertebrates: Diversity, Roles in Host Population Biology, and Impacts on Biogeochemistry

Viruses play crucial roles in aquatic ecosystems, causing extensive mortality of marine microorganisms. However, there is currently little information about viruses that infect ecologically important marine invertebrates. These organisms are important constituents of freshwater and marine ecosystems as drivers of biogeochemistry, linking microorganisms to higher trophic levels, and as ecosystem engineers. In this topic, we welcome submissions that target viral interactions with ecologically (but not necessarily economically - i.e. excluding aquacultured) invertebrates, their diversity using metagenomics or functional gene approaches, their roles in host population biology, and their impacts on host-driven ecosystem processes (e.g. biogeochemistry). We also welcome reviews of the current state of aquatic invertebrate virology, and forward-looking opinion pieces on this topic.