Abstract

CANALES-GUTIERREZ, Ángel. Evaluation of biomass and management Lemna gibba (duckweed) in the inner bay of Lake Titicaca, Puno. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2010, vol.9, n.2, pp.91-99. ISSN 1726-2216.

One of the biggest problems Puno city is currently facing is the presence of duckweed (Lemna gibba) in the inner bay of Lake Titicaca, caused by eutrophication due to bad wastewater treatment. Many of the strategies proposed so far have not yielded positive results, because these plans were directed to the extermination of this organism. Instead, the most sustainable duckweed use should be considered. That is why the objectives of this study were: (a) To estimate duckweed biomass (kg/m²) in the inner bay of Lake Titicaca, (b) To propose a management strategy for the duckweed from the inner bay of Lake Titicaca. The average biomass of the duckweed in the inner bay was 6.94 kg/m²; the average pH and temperature of the water were 6.3 and 13.8°C, respectively. This proves the effectiveness of this organism to grow in difficult conditions (in addition there are high levels of N, P and heavy metals), so that its management can be used as an alternative to reduce the eutrophication of the lake. Moreover, duckweed management strategies were framed within social, economical and environmental plans. Therefore, this macrophyte management is sustainable and beneficial for the people of Puno and the ecosystem of Lake Titicaca.

Keywords : Bay; Duckweed; pH; Lake Titicaca; temperature.

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