Diversity and Sources of Airborne Eukaryotic Communities (AEC) in the Global Dust Belt over the Red Sea

Abstract Airborne eukaryotic communities (AEC), rank among the least studied aerobiological components, despite their adverse impacts on human health and environment. Here, we describe AECs in global dust belt, area between west coast of North Africa Central Asia, which supports highest fluxes planet. We sampled atmospheric over 14 months (fall 2015–fall 2016) from onshore offshore locations Red Sea, only waterbody that entirely encompassed belt. also surface water samples to determine potential transfer taxa across air-sea interface. To target eukaryotes, performed Miseq sequencing samples. Analysis amplicon indicates a total pool 18,816 sequence variants (SVs). Among 33 unique phyla AEC most dominant were Streptophyta, Apicomplexa, Ascomycota. Aerosol eukaryotes originated various sources formed more diverse than Sea water. dominated by phylotypes released plant material soils, including reported be harmful health. The composition was significantly influenced sampling seasonal conditions but not origin air masses nor loads. This work is original uses state-of-the-art methods very powerful NGS- bioinformatics statistical approaches. selected study site has high interest it been well chosen because combination loads deposition, being fully contained seawater body acting as sink for dust, lack riverine inputs watershed effects empathizing role ecology system.