Giant Viruses Are Infecting Algae in a Rare, Floating Lake in The Arctic

A new study shows that giant viruses have been found in a lake in the northern part of the world.

Less than 800 kilometers from the North Pole, the Milne Fiord epishelf lake is a body of freshwater.

The researchers found that the freshwater had more viruses than the salt water.

They found "giant" viruses that were several times larger than typical viruses, and they also found microalgae that were affected by them.

Mary Thaler, a co-author of the study, told Live Science in an email that the lake has its own community of Viruses.

The lake is held in place by ice. Fresh water floats above salt water because it is less dense. The top of the lake is covered in ice to protect the freshwater from the wind and waves.

There are thousands of new Viruses in the ocean.

Water samples were collected from the lake. Some of the viruses they identified were part of a group of giantviruses called Megaviricetes.

Thaler said that one of the characteristics of viruses in general is how small they are, and carrying only a few genes to help them reproduce.

Scientists have discovered giant viruses that are as big as a bacterium with genomes that could potentially carry many interesting genes.

According to a statement by The American Society for Microbiology, the researchers don't know how most of the viruses affect the tiny organisms.

Warming temperatures threaten to destroy the ice dam holding the fresh water in place and the study authors are in a race against the clock.

Thaler said that Epishelf lakes used to be more common in the northern part of the country. The lake will be lost if the ice dam breaks.

The study was published in August.

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The original article was published by Live Science. The original article can be found here.