Table 2.

Environmental characteristics of the sampling sites.

Site	Temperature (°C)	pH	Classification	Location
Termas Jurasi	48–52	7.5–8.2	Thermal affluent	18°12′37″ S 69°30′37″ W 4053 m
El Tatio Geothermal Field	55–82	7.5–8.2	Geothermal field	22°19′52″ S 68°00′45″ W 4278 m
Laguna Tebenquiche	12–22	7.8–8.2	Hypersaline lagoon, Atacama Desert	23°08′22″ S 68°15′38″ W 2316 m
Laguna Cejar	22–32	7.4–8.6	Hypersaline lagoon, Atacama Desert	23°03′55″ S 68°12′52″ W 2334 m
Quebrada Carrizo	18–22	6.8–7	Fresh water spring, Coastal Desert	23°41′54″ S 70°24′24″ W 95 m