Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of the structure and functioning of continental aquatic ecosystems is crucial for the effective conservation and sustainable use of water and hydrobiological resources in Colombia, a country renowned for its exceptional biodiversity and abundant water reserves. This study examines the biological arrangements and the environmental processes that structure freshwater bodies in various Colombian regions, analyzes the probable underlying causes, and suggests avenues for further research. Physicochemical variables were recorded in situ, and water samples were collected for nutrient analysis. Periphytic algae and aquatic macroinvertebrates were sampled from 26 lentic and 80 lotic ecosystems across different Andean, trans-Andean, and cis-Andean regions between 2005 and 2022. Data analysis involved classification (UPGMA) and ordination (PCA, UMAP, NMDS, LDA), which led to several significant findings: 1) The phycoperiphyton and macroinvertebrate assemblages showed a characteristic relationship with environmental factors, mirroring the environmental conditions of the aquatic ecosystems; 2) the physicochemical factors successfully classified different aquatic systems based on their specific geographical areas, emphasizing clear regional distinctions; 3) lentic systems exhibited more pronounced regional differences than lotic systems, implying that still-water environments may be more sensitive to local ecological effects, and 4) some physicochemical characteristics and biological composition correspondences were observed among aquatic systems in different regions, suggesting potential shared influences or similar environmental conditions affecting them. Based on these general limnological patterns, a comprehensive conceptual framework is proposed that clarifies the interactions among these factors. Potential future research topics have been identified to enhance the understanding of the structure and dynamics of these aquatic systems.
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