Research Article

Effect of bottom sediments on the nutrient and metal concentration in macrophytes of river-lake systems

¹ Department of Water Resources, Climatology and Environmental Management, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 2, Olsztyn 10-719, Poland
² Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Oczapowskiego 8, Olsztyn 10-719, Poland

^* Corresponding author: angela.potasznik@uwm.edu.pl

Received: 19 May 2017
Accepted: 13 November 2017

Abstract

Water bodies of river-lake systems can act as barriers in the movement of nutrients and toxic heavy metals outside their water catchment area. These components can be suspended in the water column, deposited in bottom sediments or bioaccumulated by the vegetation in the water body. A constant exchange of substances takes place between bottom sediments and macrophytes. The composition of bottom sediments and their distribution affects the intensity of nutrients and metals assimilation by macrophytes in the river-lake systems. The aim of research was to analyse the effect of bottom sediments on the nutrients and metal content in macrophytes. It was demonstrated that tissues of plants anchored in sediments that were more abundant in nutrients had higher contents of biogenic components and heavy metals. The properties of bottom sediments, mainly their granulometric composition, but also organic matter content and pH, determine the content of biogenes and heavy metals in macrophytes to a significant extent. On the other hand, it was demonstrated that aquatic plants could affect the grain size in the sediments. Macrophytes and sediments of river-lake systems play a very important role in reducing the transport of nutrients outside the area of the system, through capturing and incorporating them into the tissues of aquatic plants.