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Aerobiology and the global transport of desert dust

November 1, 2006

Desert winds aerosolize several billion tons of soil-derived dust each year, including concentrated seasonal pulses from Africa and Asia. These transoceanic and transcontinental dust events inject a large pulse of microorganisms and pollen into the atmosphere and could therefore have a role in transporting pathogens or expanding the biogeographical range of some organisms by facilitating long-distance dispersal events. As we discuss here, whether such dispersal events are occurring is only now beginning to be investigated. Huge dust events create an atmospheric bridge over land and sea, and the microbiota contained within them could impact downwind ecosystems. Such dispersal is of interest because of the possible health effects of allergens and pathogens that might be carried with the dust.

Publication Year 2006
Title Aerobiology and the global transport of desert dust
DOI 10.1016/j.tree.2006.07.004
Authors Christina A. Kellogg, Dale W. Griffin
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Index ID 70176671
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center