Temporal and spatial variability of heavy metals in bottom sediments and the aquatic macrophyte Paspalum repens of the O
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Temporal and spatial variability of heavy metals in bottom sediments and the aquatic macrophyte Paspalum repens of the Orinoco River floodplain lagoons impacted by industrial activities Aracelis Narayan 1 & Abrahan Mora 2
&
Luzmila Sánchez 3 & Judith Rosales 1
Received: 7 February 2020 / Accepted: 4 June 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract This study investigated the water parameters and the levels of several heavy metals in leaves and roots of the aquatic macrophyte Paspalum repens and in bed sediments of one unpolluted lagoon and two polluted lagoons of the Orinoco River floodplain to know the impact of the alumina refining wastes on these ecosystems. The sampling was performed during four hydrological periods, covering one hydrological year. Chemical parameters in water (pH, conductivity, and total dissolved solids) and the levels of Al, Pb, Cr, and Cu in sediments were the highest in Macanillal (LMaca) lagoon, whereas sediments of Punta Cuchillo (LPC) lagoon also had elevated concentrations of Al and Fe in comparison with Las Aruhacas (LArh) lagoon (unpolluted lagoon). Chemical parameters in waters returned almost to natural values during high water stage because of the huge inundation of the Orinoco River during the high discharge periods. The solid/liquid discharges of industrial effluents over these systems also affected the grain size distribution of sediments in the lagoons. In all the studied lagoons, the distribution of elements in leaves of P. repens was in the order K ≥ Cr > Ca > Mg > Al > Fe > Mn > Cu > Pb, whereas Al was found to be the more abundant element in roots. The high abundance of Cr in P. repens was related with the high Cr accumulation potential shown by aquatic macrophytes. Despite this, the concentration of elements in P. repens did not show differences between the plants collected in the polluted lagoons versus the plants collected in the unpolluted lagoon. This suggests that P. repens is unsuitable for biomonitoring studies of heavy metals in these aquatic environments impacted by alkaline residues. Keywords Bed sediments . Paspalum repens . Floodplain . Orinoco River . Alkaline waste . Red mud
Introduction Floodplain of large rivers is a network with diverse array of wetlands including small and large lagoons rich in biological diversity and functionality. In these systems, both ecological Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues * Abrahan Mora [email protected] 1
Centro de Investigaciones Ecológicas de Guayana, Universidad Nacional Experimental de Guayana, Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela
2
Escuela de ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Puebla, Vía Atlixcáyotl 5718, Reserva Territorial Atlixcáyotl, Puebla, Mexico
3
Estación de Investigaciones Hidrobiológicas de Guayana, Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales, Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela
and evolutionary processes of great significance are performed, contributing with ecological services, climate stabilization, and being biological corridors for regional w
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