The Ecotoxicology of Aquatic Macrophytes

MENONE, MIRTA LUJÁN; METCALFE, CD.

Springer

Año: 2023 p. 232

978-3-031-27832-7

Aquatic macrophytes are a morphologically and physiologically diverse group of vascular plants that are distributed all over the world in a variety of aquatic habitats. They provide a range of ecological services, as well as habitat for aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates, and are important primary producers that support both herbivores and detritivores. Aquatic macrophytes are exposed to a range of contaminants of both geogenic and anthropogenic origin. In order to protect aquatic ecosystems from the impacts of these contaminants, toxicity studies with species of aquatic macrophytes should be essential components of ecological risk assessments. This chapter provides an overview of the challenges and the opportunities for ecotoxicology studies using aquatic macrophytes and provides an introduction to the more detailed reviews and reports in subsequent chapters of the book.