Geochemical, physicochemical, and genomic data from a continental-scale survey of microbial diversity in Antarctic soils (2003-2023)

This data package offers comprehensive insights into Antarctic soil microbial diversity and composition. From 2003 to 2023, a total of 186 samples were collected from diverse locations spanning the Antarctic Peninsula to East Antarctica, representing a wide range of environmental gradients and climatic conditions. Soils were stored at -20°C to preserve their integrity for downstream analyses. This data package integrates cultivation-independent sequencing of prokaryotic and fungal communities alongside a robust cultivation-dependent culture collection to enable direct comparisons across microbial diversity assessment methods. Accompanying geochemical, physicochemical, and environmental parameters provide critical context for biogeographical analyses, offering a valuable resource for studying microbial adaptations and community dynamics in extreme Antarctic environments.