Highest Composition Dissimilarity among Phytoplankton Communities at Intermediate Environmental Distances across High-Altitude Tropical Lakes

Tropical high-altitude lakes are vital freshwater ecosystems for the functioning and dynamics of tropical wetlands called páramos, found at over 3300 m above sea level. They play a major role in hydrogeological cycle provide important hydrological services such as water storage, yet they understudied. Describing patterns processes community composition these is required to better understand consequences their degradation by human activities. In this study we tested geographical environmental components distance–decay relationships phytoplankton structure across 24 from Southern Ecuador. Phytoplankton phyla level showed high among-lake variation Tres Lagunas. We no links, however, between geographic distance composition. On contrary, observed some environmentally related like redox potential, altitude, temperature, total phosphorus. The absence support relationship here can result conjunction local niche-based effects dispersal limitations. Lagunas system or any other ecosystem may be jointly regulated neutral forces that still need explored. Despite not proving mechanistic explanation structure, hope our findings understanding vulnerable ecosystems. More studies urgently required.