Vertical patterns of microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling potential in northern Lake Malawi/Nyasa, East Africa

The dataset includes water chemistry variables, dissolved organic matter characteristics, 16S rRNA gene-based microbial community data, and carbon- and nitrogen-cycling functional gene abundances. These data were generated to characterize vertical variations in environmental conditions, dissolved organic matter properties, microbial community composition, and microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling functional potential across the sampled water column.

The dataset supports the analyses and figures presented in the associated research article and may also provide a reference for studies of microbial ecology and biogeochemical cycling in large tropical lakes.