Secondary dataset on experimentally-derived marine phytoplankton responses to dust and dust-derived trace metal additions

This secondary dataset compiles experimental findings from previously published incubation, microcosm, and mesocosm studies investigating the effect of dust deposition, and the trace metals released from dust, on marine phytoplankton growth, physiology, and community composition. The dataset is organised into two related tables, reflecting the two principal experimental approaches used across the source literature: studies that manipulated whole dust addition (reported as a mass or mass-concentration dose, e.g. mg L⁻¹ or mg m⁻²), and studies that isolated and manipulated the concentration of an individual dust-derived trace metal (reported in nM). For each entry, the dataset records the geographic origin of the phytoplankton/seawater used, the source and location of the dust employed (where the two differ, as is common in proxy-dust experiments), the applied dust or metal dose, and a structured summary of the reported phytoplankton response (e.g. changes in chlorophyll-a, cell abundance, or photophysiological indices such as Fv/Fm, by taxonomic group where specified). A free-text field retains experimental context not captured by the standardised fields, such as experimental duration, treatment design (e.g. single versus repeated dust addition), and sampling dates. Data were extracted directly from the text, tables, and figures of each cited publication. Response descriptions are summarised in the authors' own terminology as reported in the source study. The full bibliographic reference for each entry is provided in a separate sheet for each table, cross-referenced by author and year. File structure: Sheet 1 – ReadMe on how to use the data Sheet 2 – "Table1 Dust loads": experiments manipulating whole dust addition (dose reported as mass or mass per volume). Sheet 3 – "Table 1 References": full citations for Sheet 2. Sheet 4 – "Table2 Metal Content": experiments manipulating individual dust-derived trace metal concentrations (dose reported in nM). Sheet 5 – "Table 2 References": full citations for Sheet 4. Column descriptions (Sheets 2 and 5): Column Description Location specifics / Phytoplankton Location Geographic origin and description of the seawater/phytoplankton community used Dust Location Source and collection location of the dust (or dust proxy) used in the experiment Dry dust addition (mg L⁻¹) [Table 1] Applied dust dose Trace Metal addition (nM) [Table 2] Applied concentration of the specific metal tested Phytoplankton utilised during experiments [Table 2] Species, genus, or community type used Phytoplankton response to dust Summary of the reported biological response, by taxon/size class where specified in the source Additional information Experimental design, duration, treatment structure, and sampling dates Reference In-text citation (author, year), cross-referenced to the corresponding References sheet Keywords: phytoplankton; dust deposition; trace metal toxicity; iron fertilisation; marine mesocosm; bioassay; literature compilation