Impact of copper on Baltic Sea sediments

Copper (Cu) is a crucial trace element, essential for various biological processes, including enzyme catalysis, respiration, and photosynthesis. However, at high concentrations, Cu becomes toxic, posing serious risks to aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we evaluated the impact of Cu on sediments from two areas of the Baltic Sea, under oxic and hypoxic conditions. Several incubations of sediments from the Asko and Oskarshamn areas, off the east coast of Sweden, were conducted with increasing Cu concentrations. The impact on the bacterial community was assessed using metatranscriptomic approach, obtaining taxonomic profiles, and gene expression data.