The invasive macrophyte Pistia stratiotes L. as a bioindicator for water pollution in Lake Mariut, Egypt

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the potentiality of the aquatic macrophyte Pistia stratiotes to accumulate trace metals, perspective of phytoremediation, and the probability for using it as a bioindicator for the different pollution types. Plants were collected from the different Lake Mariut basins (main basin, south-west, north-west, and fish farm), through five quadrats each, for measuring some growth parameters such as plant density, rosette diameter and height, root length, number of living and dead leaves per individual, and leaf length and width. In addition, nutrients and heavy metals in plant organs as well as water samples were analyzed. The bioaccumulation and translocation factors of trace metals were calculated. Water physicochemical data of Lake Mariut showed significant variations of all variables, except temperature and pH as well as Cd metal, among the lake basins. Fish farm was characterized by the highest plant density, individual size, biomass, and the number of living leaves, while the north-west basin had the lowest, except the number of dead leaves. In contrast to trace metals, P. stratiotes accumulated concentrations of macronutrients in the leaves higher than in roots. The bioaccumulation factors of the investigated metals, except Cu, were greater than one, while the translocation factors (TFs) of all trace metals were less than unity, and this may render P. stratiotes suitable for rhizofiltration. In addition, the significant positive correlation of Ni and Cd in water with those in plant roots and leaves as well as the growth response of this plant to the different pollutants may suggest its potential use as bioindicator for these pollutants in water.

Seasonal potential of Phragmites australis in nutrient removal to eliminate the eutrophication in Lake Burullus, Egypt

“…Eutrophication is the most global environmental and water quality issue since it is the most common and severe environmental hazard in wetland ecosystems (Schindler 2012). It is one of the most serious problems in wetland ecosystems due to the considerable contribution of nutrients from diffuse sources, including the use of phosphate detergents and nutrient leaching from widespread intensive agriculture (Galal and Farahat 2015). In shallow lakes such as Lake Burullus, eutrophication represents a serious issue with common symptoms, including high nutrient loads, sediment re-suspension, high turbidity, dense algal blooms, and anoxia in deeper parts of the water column, resulting in fish kills and undesirable odours (Lapointe et al 2015;Sinha et al 2017).…”

Verification of a numerical growth model of Pistia stratiotes L. using field data from tropical and subtropical sites

“…P. stratiotes has adverse effects on biodiversity and the environment, due to the ability of developing dense mats, impeding fishing and boat transport, as well as constituting a health hazard by sheltering disease carrying insects and snails (Abbasi et al 1991;Mbati & Neuenschwander 2005;Yang et al 2014). On the other hand, P. stratiotes has been shown to have great potential for the management of water quality, due to its capacity for the accumulation of heavy metals from wastewater (Srivastava et al 2008;Galal & Farahat 2015).…”

Effect of Pollution Type on the Phytoplankton Community Structure in Lake Mariut, Egypt

“…the northeast basin receives considerable amounts of sewage drainage, while the southeast basin receives a mixture of agricultural runoff and industrial wastes. In addition, the southwestern basin receives discharges from oil refineries and agriculture, and the northwestern basin receives discharges from oil and gas as well as textile and petrochemical industries (Galal & farahat, 2015). Phytoplankton samples were fixed with Lugol's solution and species were recorded and enumerated using the inverted microscope method (Utermöhl, 1958).…”

“…the role of phytoplankton as a main source of fish nutrition is well known, and in order to develop the fish economy it is necessary to study well the phytoplankton communities and the factors affecting their distribution (el-Sherif, 1993). Moreover, many studies were carried out on the impact of water pollution on macrophytes (Galal et al, 2008;Galal &Shehata, 2014 andGalal &farahat, 2015), while little were carried out on phytoplankton. therefore, the present study aims at investigating the effect of water quality and pollution type on the phytoplankton community structure and distribution in Mariut wetland, egypt.…”