Abstract

JARA-PENA, Enoc et al. Accumulation of heavy metals in Calamagrostis rigida (Kunth) Trin. ex Steud. (Poaceae) and Myriophyllum quitense Kunth (Haloragaceae) evaluated in four high Andean wetlands of Peru . Arnaldoa [online]. 2017, vol.24, n.2, pp.583-598. ISSN 1815-8242.  http://dx.doi.org/10.22497/arnaldoa.242.24210.

In Peru, water pollution is mainly caused by activities related to industry, mining and agriculture. Aquatic environments are the most affected, with loss of plant species and its biodiversity, and among them, high Andean wetlands are one of the most vulnerable aquatic ecosystems due to contamination by heavy metals. This study was conducted in Yanamate and Quiulacocha lagoons (Pasco Region), and Ticticocha and Yuracmayo lagoons (Lima Region), in central Peru. Two species (Calamagrostis rigida and Myriophylum quitense) concentrated higher quantities of heavy metals in the root tissues than in the aerial biomass, therefore, these two would be considered as heavy metals phytostabilizer species. The highest cadmium accumulation (7.93 mg kg^-1 dry matter) was registered in C. rigida roots from the Yuracmayo Lagoon. Meanwhile, the major copper accumulation (96.43 mg kg^-1 DM) was registered in C. rigida from Quiulacocha Lagoon. However, the highest concentrations of lead (160.15 mg kg^-1 DM) and zinc (597.40 mg kg^-1 DM) were registered in C. rigida roots from Yanamate Lagoon. Finally, the species M. quitense was registered only in the Ticticocha Lagoon and concentrated the lowest values of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in comparison to C. rigida, and could be considered as a bioindicator of water pollution by heavy metals. Regular concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in the water and sediments of the four lagoons widely exceeded the national environmental standards of water quality.

Keywords : high Andean lagoons; macrophytes; phytoremediation; acid waters; phytostabilization of metals; Peruvian Andes.

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