Abstract
Natural sulfide rich deposits are common in coastal areas worldwide, including along the Baltic Sea coast. When artificial drainage exposes these deposits to atmospheric oxygen, iron sulfide minerals in the soils are rapidly oxidized. This process turns the potential acid sulfate soils into actual acid sulfate soils and mobilizes large quantities of acidity and leachable toxic metals that cause severe environmental problems. It is known that acidophilic microorganisms living in acid sulfate soils catalyze iron sulfide mineral oxidation. However, only a few studies regarding these communities have been published. In this study, we sampled the oxidized actual acid sulfate soil, the transition zone where oxidation is actively taking place, and the deepest un-oxidized potential acid sulfate soil. Nucleic acids were extracted and 16S rRNA gene amplicons, metagenomes, and metatranscriptomes generated to gain a detailed insight into the communities and their activities. The project will be of great use to microbiologists, environmental biologists, geochemists, and geologists as there is hydrological and geochemical monitoring from the site stretching back for many years.
Highlights
Background & SummaryNaturally occurring deposits containing sulfidic sediments that form acid sulfate soils (ASS) cover over 17 million hectares of coastal areas
The previous 16S rRNA gene based investigations from the oxidized zone at the site identified a mixed community of acidophilic bacteria and archaea similar to that found in acid mine drainage environments along with sulfate
More detailed investigations into the metabolic potential and activities of the contrasting microbial communities in oxidized ASS, the transition zone containing the oxidative front, and the potential acid sulfate soil (PASS) have not been reported. In this Data Descriptor, we present triplicate biological replicate data for 16S rRNA gene amplicons, metagenomes, and metatranscriptomes from the oxidized, transition, and un-oxidized soils horizons at the Risöfladan experimental field along with the accompanying geochemical metadata (Table 1)
Summary
Data Descriptor metatranscriptomes from boreal potential and actual acid sulfate soil. When artificial drainage exposes these deposits to atmospheric oxygen, iron sulfide minerals in the soils are rapidly oxidized. This process turns the potential acid sulfate soils into actual acid sulfate soils and mobilizes large quantities of acidity and leachable toxic metals that cause severe environmental problems. It is known that acidophilic microorganisms living in acid sulfate soils catalyze iron sulfide mineral oxidation. We sampled the oxidized actual acid sulfate soil, the transition zone where oxidation is actively taking place, and the deepest un-oxidized potential acid sulfate soil. Nucleic acids were extracted and 16S rRNA gene amplicons, metagenomes, and metatranscriptomes generated to gain a detailed insight into the communities and their activities. The project will be of great use to microbiologists, environmental biologists, geochemists, and geologists as there is hydrological and geochemical monitoring from the site stretching back for many years
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