and densely packed bacterioneuston forms an excellent target for viruses compared to the bacterioplankton populating the subsurface. This is because high host-cell numbers will increase the probability of host–virus encounters. The viral shunt might effectively contribute to the SML's already high DOM content enhancing bacterial production as previously suggested for pelagic ecosystems and in turn replenishing host cells for viral infections. By affecting the DOM pool, viruses in the SML might directly interfere with the microbial loop being initiated when DOM is microbially recycled, converted into biomass, and passed along the food web. In addition, the release of DOM from lysed host cells by viruses contributes to organic particle generation. However, the role of the virioneuston for the microbial loop has never been investigated. Measurement Devices used to sample the concentrations of particulates and compounds of the SML include a glass fabric, metal mesh screens, and other hydrophobic surfaces. These are placed on a rotating cylinder which collects surface samples as it rotates on top of the ocean surface. The glass plate sampler is commonly used. It was first described in 1972 by Harvey and Burzell as a simple but effective method of collecting small sea surface microlayer samples. A clean glass plate is immersed vertically into the water and then withdrawn in a controlled manner. Harvey and Burzell used a plate which was 20 cm square and 4 mm thick. They withdrew it from the sea at the rate of 20 cm per second. Typically the uppermost 20–150 µm of the surface microlayer adheres to the plate as it is withdrawn. The sample is then wiped from both sides of the plate into a sampling vial. For a plate of the size used by Harvey and Burzel, the resulting sample volumes are between about 3 and 12 cubic centimetres. The sampled SML thickness h in micrometres is given by: where V is the sample volume in cm3, A is the total immersed plate area of both sides in cm2, and N is the number of times the sample was dipped. Remote sensing Ocean surface habitats sit at the interface between the ocean and the atmosphere. The biofilm-like habitat at the surface of the ocean harbours surface-dwelling microorganisms, commonly referred to as neuston. This vast air–water interface sits at the intersection of major air–water exchange processes spanning more than 70% of the global surface area . Bacteria in the surface