Recent limnological changes in a saline lake of the Bolivian Altiplano,Lake Poopo

During the past twelve years, Lake Poopo, located on the Bolivian Altiplano, has had two main types of morphometry. Before 1985, its level was low and the depth shallow (maximum 3 m); there was no outlet and a strong salinity gradient existed from north to south. After 1985, the depth doubled, an outlet developed and the salinity became uniform throughout the lake (∼10 g L⁻¹). Before 1985, the phytoplankton was distinguished by a high number of diatom taxa and by the dominance of diatoms in the algal biomass. After 1985, while diatoms were still numerous in terms of species composition, Peridiniales or Chlorophyceae dominated the algal biomass. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A02GG003 00002