First reported characterization of the skin microbiome of stranded Dugong dugon from the coastal habitats in the Arabian Gulf: a baseline study using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing
This study reports the first characterization of the skin microbiome of the marine mammal Dugong dugon (order Sirenia) using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Skin samples were collected from three stranded individuals along ecologically distinct coastal regions of Qatar (Khor Al Adaid, Dukhan, and Fuwayrit). Sequencing was performed using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) to achieve species-level taxonomic resolution. The dataset reveals distinct microbial community structures across individuals, with no shared core microbiome, and highlights the influence of environmental and ecological factors on skin-associated microbial composition. This dataset provides a baseline reference for future microbiome and conservation studies in dugongs.