Raw data for the analysis of cobalt impacts on freshwater phytoplankton in warming polar regions

Primary production in aquatic environments relies on supplies of bio-accessible nitrogen and phosphorus in addition to light availability. Glacier melt and permafrost degradation have accelerated worldwide over the past two decades, inducing changes in these resources with ensuing ecological impacts. The potential ecological role of bio-essential metals such as cobalt has however been sparsely tested in polar aquatic environments. Here we conducted nutrient addition bioassay incubations in a selection of Greenland and Antarctic lakes, and further analyzed dissolved trace metals concentration in runoff across a multi-year time-series.