Microbial diversity and trophic components of two high altitude wetlands of the chilean altiplano Diversidad microbiana y componentes trófi cos de dos humedales de altura del altiplano chileno

Abstract

© 2015, Universidad de Concepcion. All rights reserved. This study examines the limnology and ecology of two high altitude wetlands, Lirima (19°51’24 S; 68°55’02 W; 4000 m asl) and Caya (20°37’21 S; 68°58’28 W; 3700 m asl), located in the Chilean Altiplano. Both wetlands are formed by the evaporitic remnant basins of paleolakes which occupied an extensive area of what today is known as the Altiplano. These systems have a negative hydrological balance, receiving their water from groundwater, snow melt and limited seasonal rains. An ongoing negative water balance and the sediment characteristics in the region have accelerated the salinization process in these systems, as shown by their present physicochemical characteristics. Nutrient values were typical of mesotrophic to eutrophic systems. The ionic content classifi es Lirima as a sodium sulfated wetland and Caya as a calcium chloride one. Conductivity values ranged between 778 μS/cm at Lirima to 2100 μS/cm at Caya, and were refl ected