Environmental conditions during a 6 month biofouling experiment in the Arabian Gulf

The development of a mature biofouling community on solid surfaces in the marine environment primarily involves the availability of colonizing bacterial communities and their ability to persist over time in any given environment. This study was undertaken as part of a collaborative project titled Biotechnological Applications of Marine Biofilms developing on solid surfaces in the Arabian Gulf funded by research grant (SQU-GCC/CL/17/02). The succession of marine biofouling communities (mature biofilms) on plastic panels were investigated over a period of six months in four locations in the Arabian Gulf (Fintas and Salmiya marinas in Kuwait, and Bandar Rowdha and Al Mouj marinas in Oman). Monthly assessment of the physico-chemical parameters of the seawater at each location was done using portable meters (thermometer, refractometer, pH meter, turbidity meter and conductivity/TDS meter). The concentrations of nutrients and elements were analysed using ion chromatography (IC) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), respectively.