16S rRNA metabarcoding of the Titicaca, a high-altitude Andean Lake

The paper describes the use of 16S rRNA metabarcoding to investigate the structure of bacterial communities in the Titicaca Lake, including areas with anthropogenic impacts. Our results show how the pollutes from urban cities and the eutrophication process have led to a homogenization of bacterial community structure, with predominance of Cyanobacteriia and Verrucomicrobiae in the Minor Lake (Desaguadero) and Puno Bay. Also, it is observed that rainbow trout farming affects the bacterial community composition in the lake, switching to a predominance of pathogenic bacterial species, i.e., Flavobacterium and Acinetobacter. The results of this study help us to understand how communities of organisms are affected, for better management of this area in economic, social and health aspects.