MYRIOPHYLLUM AQUATICUM AS AQUATIC POLLUTION BIOINDICATOR OF THE RIVER CTALAMOCHITA BASIN: ANALYSIS OF PHOTOSINTETIC PIGMENTS AND HEAVY METALS IN LEAVES.

HARGUINTEGUY CA; ABRIL G; PIGNATA ML

Cope Town - South Africa

Congreso; 31º Congress of the International Limnological Society; 2010

International Society of Limnology

Our investigation on Myriophyllum aquaticum as aquatic pollution bioindicator of the Ctalamochita basin, is an assessment of the ecological status of this basin. We studied the photosintetic pigments and heavy metal concentrations in leaves of aquatic macrophyte, to determine if they can be used as indicators of point sources of pollution. Industrial and municipal point sources at the rivers shore increase contamination by heavy metals. The content of Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Chemical-physiological parameters were also determined to detect symptoms of foliar damage. Chlorophylls, phaeophytins, hydroperoxy conjugated dienes, malondialdehyde and sulfur were quantified in M. aquaticum. Some of these parameters were used to calculate an aquatic pollution index. Data sets were evaluated by one-way ANOVA, correlation analysis and principal component analysis. The presence of power plants and different industrial activities next to shore river might have effects over the photosintetic pigments and membrane lipid peroxidation in leaves of M. aquaticum aquatic pollution index showed effects of contamination on the bioindicator specie in the industrial zone of Río Tercero city. The aquatic plant accumulated high concentations of Ni, Mn, Fe and Zn and the concentration of these metals could be tolerated by M. aquaticum, since no direct association between metals and foliar damage parameters was found.