Shotgun metagenomics reveals the interplay between microbiome diversity and environmental gradients in the first marine protected area in the northern Arabian Gulf.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The northwest Arabian Gulf encounters significant anthropogenic pressures, including nutrient enrichment from coastal development and effluent discharge.

Methods

This study presents the first shotgun metagenomics-based characterization of microbial communities in Kuwaiti waters of the northwest Arabian Gulf, focusing on Kuwait's first Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Sulaibikhat Bay, a vital nursery ground for commercially important fish.

Results

Analysis revealed significantly higher microbial diversity within the MPA compared to adjacent waters, with Rhodobacteraceae (27.8%) and Flavobacteriaceae (15.3%) being dominant. Elevated inorganic phosphorus, nitrogen, and salinity were key factors driving this diversity. Multivariate analysis highlighted phosphat

SUBMITTER: Fakhraldeen SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11755137 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature