Nitrogen is unlikely to consistently limit primary productivity in most tropical lakes

Despite mounting evidence that tropical lakes may experience an array of phytoplankton nutrient limitation regimes, references to low-latitude being predominantly nitrogen limited remain common in the literature. To assess current understanding regimes lakes, we performed a literature review with following objectives: First, quantify and summarize observations (N), phosphorus (P), colimitation collected studies. Second, identify drivers regimes. Third, provide literature-informed recommendations for future research efforts into lakes. We report not only is N dominant limiting reviewed but exhibit wide range there often considerable heterogeneity within individual lake. This driven largely by seasonal patterns water column stratification precipitation, land use cover (LULC), interaction these system characteristics lake morphology. accurately characterize aquatic ecosystems, assessments need include sampling across space time order capture within-lake spatial both inter- intra-annual temporal variation. Whenever possible, inferential experimental approaches should be used concert determine due methodological limitations.