“…Although different factors (e.g., grazing) may influence the composition and biomass of the autotrophic microbial communities, previous studies on the shallow lakes of this region showed that light and nutrients are the key factors (Torremorell et al, 2007;Allende et al, 2009;Llames et al, 2009;Pérez et al, 2010). Importantly, even though our study was conducted during a particular season (late spring), in these shallow lakes the underwater Zeax,zeaxanthin;Lut,lutein;Neox,neoxanthin;Fucox,fucoxanthin;Diad,diadinoxanthin;Myxo,myxoxanthophyll;Carot 16.54, light and nutrient conditions remain rather constant over the year, as reported in previous studies (Allende et al, 2009;Pérez et al, 2010;Silvoso et al, 2011;Izaguirre et al, 2012).…”