c Microbial populations residing in close contact with plants can be found in the rhizosphere, in the phyllosphere as epiphytes on the surface, or inside plants as endophytes. Here, we analyzed the microbiota associated with Espeletia plants, endemic to the Páramo environment of the Andes Mountains and a unique model for studying microbial populations and their adaptations to the adverse conditions of high-mountain neotropical ecosystems. Communities were analyzed using samples from the rhizosphere, necromass, and young and mature leaves, the last two analyzed separately as endophytes and epiphytes. The taxonomic composition determined by performing sequencing of the V5-V6 region of the 16S rRNA gene indicated differences among populations of the leaf phyllosphere, the necromass, and the rhizosphere, with predominance of some phyla but only few shared operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Functional profiles predicted on the basis of taxonomic affiliations differed from those obtained by GeoChip microarray analysis, which separated community functional capacities based on plant microenvironment. The identified metabolic pathways provided insight regarding microbial strategies for colonization and survival in these ecosystems. This study of novel plant phyllosphere microbiomes and their putative functional ecology is also the first step for future bioprospecting studies in search of enzymes, compounds, or microorganisms relevant to industry or for remediation efforts.A ndean high-mountain environments have been reported as diversity hot spots, mainly because of their endemic species (1). The Paramos ecosystems within the Neotropical Andes consist of isolated, high-elevation areas that are reported to be the world's fastest-evolving biodiversity hot spot (2). These ecosystems are exposed to harsh environmental conditions, such as high incidence of UV radiation (3) and daily shifts in temperatures that impose selective pressure on native plants and their associated microbiota (4). In particular, the phyllosphere of endemic plants from Paramos represents a unique ecosystem for microbial communities with diverse and distinctive abilities to survive under conditions considered extreme for other forms of life.The phyllosphere refers to all aboveground surfaces of any plant, including leaves, stems, buds, flowers, and fruits (5). It acts as a landing stage where spores or other propagules can develop and multiply (6) and has been reported as probably the largest ecosystem on earth colonized by microorganisms, mainly bacteria and fungi (7). Interest in studying the phyllosphere microbiota is growing due to its potential in terms of microbial interactions, survival under harsh environmental, nutrient or humidity conditions, and bioprospecting. The most emblematic plant in the Colombian Paramos is known as "frailejón," a plant endemic to the region and belonging to the genus Espeletia (8, 9). These plants have unique adaptations that enable them to resist exposure to UV light and daily temperature changes; they are in close ...