Distribution of heavy metals in Phragmites australis growing in constructed treatment wetlands and comparison with natural unpolluted sites

• Published in: Ecological engineering 2022-02, Vol.175, p.106505, Article 106505
• Main Authors: Březinová, Tereza Dvořáková, Vymazal, Jan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abundance; Accumulation; Aquatic plants; Artificial wetlands; Biomass; Cadmium; Chromium; Constructed wetlands; Copper; Distribution; Freshwater plants; Heavy metals; Leaves; Marshes; Metals; Natural wetlands; Phragmites australis; Shoots; Standing stock; Stems; Stocks; Wetlands; Zinc
• ISSN: 0925-8574; 1872-6992
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2021.106505

The study is aimed at the distribution of heavy metals in Phragmites australis growing in constructed wetlands as well as in natural stands. Three full-scale constructed wetlands and five natural wetlands were selected. The shoots of P. australis were analysed for Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn. The results revealed that the highest biomass was recorded in base parts of the shoots – 38% in constructed and 42% in natural wetlands. On the other hand, the lowest biomass occurred in top part of the shoots – 30% in constructed wetlands and 24% in natural wetlands. The highest amount of heavy metals was accumulated in the base parts of stems followed by top part of leaves. The only exception was the highest accumulation of Cu and Zn in top leaves in constructed wetlands. The accumulation of heavy metals decreases from the base to the top in stems and in the same direction the accumulation in leaves increases. Sequestration of heavy metals followed the same pattern in both constructed and natural wetlands. The average heavy metal standing stock in stems amounted to 56% in both constructed and natural wetlands, In leaves, the respective standing stocks amounted to 43.9% and 44%. [Display omitted] •Biomass distribution in shoots of P. australis is the same both in natural and constructed wetlands.•The accumulation of heavy metals follows the same pattern in natural and constructed wetlands.•The highest accumulation of heavy metals is in the base part of stems of P. australis.•The accumulation of heavy metals in stems decreases from the bottom to the top of shoots.•The accumulation of heavy metals in leaves increases from the bottom to the top of shoots.