The Arabian Gulf is exposed to intensive dust storms during summer until early winter. We investigated the nutritive effect of the dust on microbial biodiversity of the water column and the productivity of the Gulf. We collected samples from three sites in a transect perpendicular to the shore in March (before the strong dust storms) and in October (after the dust season) in 2013. At the three sites, we sampled the water column at three depths, and see-floor sediments using a HAPS corer. We also sampled the sand dunes that are the source of the dust. We analyzed the samples for pigments, microbial community composition using a 16S rRNA analysis, and nutrients. Our results showed that species richness and biodiversity were higher in October than in March. The relative abundances of key-player microorganisms were strongly pronounced in October. We assume that the dust rapidly sinks to the seafloor where the nutrients Fe and P are liberated through iron reduction. Assuming that all phosphate diffusing from the seafloor originates from the dust particles after deposition, we estimated a contribution of minimum 30,000 tons of fish produced every year in the Gulf. We found no close temporal coupling between dust storms and productivity. This is because nutrient liberation from the seafloor is slow and its transport from the seafloor to the photic zone by circulation processes is irregular. This study highlights the importance of dust as a source of nutrients in the Gulf ecosystem.

中文翻译：

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灰尘对阿拉伯湾微生物多样性和生产力的营养影响

从夏季到初冬，阿拉伯湾都会遭受强烈的沙尘暴。我们调查了灰尘对水体微生物生物多样性和海湾生产力的营养影响。我们在 2013 年 3 月（强沙尘暴之前）和 10 月（沙尘季节之后）在垂直于海岸的横断面上采集了三个站点的样本。在三个站点，我们对三个深度的水柱进行了采样，看到- 使用 HAPS 取芯器的地面沉积物。我们还对作为灰尘来源的沙丘进行了采样。我们使用 16S rRNA 分析分析了样品的色素、微生物群落组成和营养物质。我们的结果表明，10 月份的物种丰富度和生物多样性高于 3 月份。关键参与者微生物的相对丰度在 10 月份非常明显。我们假设灰尘迅速沉入海底，在那里通过铁还原释放出营养物质 Fe 和 P。假设从海底扩散的所有磷酸盐都来自沉积后的尘埃颗粒，我们估计海湾每年至少生产 30,000 吨鱼。我们发现沙尘暴和生产力之间没有密切的时间耦合。这是因为从海底释放养分的速度很慢，而且它通过循环过程从海底到透光区的运输是不规则的。这项研究强调了灰尘作为海湾生态系统营养来源的重要性。假设从海底扩散的所有磷酸盐都来自沉积后的尘埃颗粒，我们估计海湾每年至少生产 30,000 吨鱼。我们发现沙尘暴和生产力之间没有密切的时间耦合。这是因为从海底释放养分的速度很慢，而且它通过循环过程从海底到透光区的运输是不规则的。这项研究强调了灰尘作为海湾生态系统营养来源的重要性。假设从海底扩散的所有磷酸盐都来自沉积后的尘埃颗粒，我们估计海湾每年至少生产 30,000 吨鱼。我们发现沙尘暴和生产力之间没有密切的时间耦合。这是因为从海底释放养分的速度很慢，而且它通过循环过程从海底到透光区的运输是不规则的。这项研究强调了灰尘作为海湾生态系统营养来源的重要性。