Novel and unexpected microbial diversity in acid mine drainage in Svalbard (78 N), revealed by a culture-independent approach.. Novel and unexpected microbial diversity in acid mine drainage in Svalbard

In this study we have used a culture independent approach in order to explore the microbial communities associated to AMD in different abandoned mining areas around Longyearbyen in Svalbard, 78° N. Several areas were explored and two different runoffs were analysed with the following objectives: (i) to explore the microbial diversity associated to AMD generation in the high Arctic and (ii) to find signs of phylogenetic/taxonomic and functional novelty associated to these particular environments.