First ecological analysis of lacustrine testate amoebae in Guatemala: A case study from the highland Lake Chichoj

Freshwater quality represents a central issue for human populations and the conservation of aquatic communities. In this sense, freshwater reservoirs, such as lakes, require proper management monitoring plans to avoid their deterioration pollution. Bioindicators, testate amoebae, are an excellent tool increasingly utilized limnology paleolimnology assess trophic status lacustrine environments. However, despite potential bioindicators, ecological research amoebae in Central American lakes remains poor. We conducted our at highland Lake Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, which has become eutrophic since 1980s. This study contributes fill knowledge gap about neotropical parallel testing utility bioindicators conditions. From collection 12 surface sediment samples (associated with different land uses), we found 19 taxa, first time recorded Arcella megastoma, gibbosa, Cucurbitella tricuspis, Difflugia protaeiformis strain “acuminata”, urceolata “elongata”, Lesquereusia spiralis, modesta, Mediolus corona. Our cluster analyses revealed three assemblages connection conditions: 1) Stressed Conditions (SC), 2) Lowest Contamination (LC), 3) Deep Transitional Assemblage (DT). After performing transformation-based redundancy analysis (tb-RDA), total organic carbon only significant environmental parameter associated (p<0.004). indicator species (IndVal) confirms regime Chichoj presence tricuspis Centropyxis aculeata “aculeata” indicators nutrient enrichment stressful The identified represent critical baseline future studies Guatemalan strengthening understanding causal factors behind water regions.