Page 76 - AJWEP-22-4

Tanko, et al.

A floristic list of associated species for C. demerssum Annuals (also known as ephemerals) and perennials.
L. and P. pectinatus L. is provided (Figure 2). There Regarding the life span: all associated species belong
are 11 species listed, representing 9 families and 11 to helophytes (including free-floating, submerged,
genera (Table 2). The weeds in the research region may and amphibious fresh hydrophytes) except Persicaria
be divided into two categories based on their lifespan: salicifolia (Brouss. ex Willd.) Assenov which belongs
to Hemicryptophytes.
Table 1. Data of various water quality parameters The results of metal removal efficiency of Cd, Pb,
for sites where studied plants were collected Zn and Mn at different concentrations of 0.1, 0.25,
Water quality parameter Value 0.50, 1 g/L for both studied plants, in the preliminary
experiment to compare metal concentrations and
Depth (cm) 100.0±5.77 a capability of these plants in metal accumulation.
Temperature (°C) 27.0±1.56 a C. demerssum accumulates the highest concentration
Transparency (cm) 54.0±3.12 a of Zn at (1 g/L of Zn) (Figure 4A), while P. pectinatus
pH 6.9±0.40 a accumulate the highest concentrations of Cd
Salinity (mmhos/cm) 5200.0±300.22 c (Figure 4B), Pb (Figure 4C), and Mn (Figure 4D) at the
DO (mg/L) 4.5±0.26 a same concentration (1 g/L).
In the next experiment, 1 g/L for different
BOD (mg/L) 18.0±1.04 a elements (as a better concentration for Cd, Pb, Zn
K (mg/L) 123.0±7.10 a and Mn) with different exposure times was used to
Mg (mg/L) 960.0±55.43 b calculate the percentage of their absorptions as an
Ca (mg/L) 37.0±2.14 a indicator of these elements removal by hydrophytes.
Na (mg/L) 175.0±10.10 a Tables 3 and 4 correspond to the metal removal results
HCO 3 (mg/L) 122.0±7.04 a for C. demerssum and P. pectinatus, respectively. The
PO 4 (mg/L) 9.0±0.52 a removal efficiency of P. pectinatus was higher than that
of C. demerssum.
NH 4 (mg/L) 12.0±0.69 a The heavy metal removal efficiency of P. pectinatus
Notes: a,b,c Letters are used to indicate statistically significant and C. demerssum is shown in Figure 5. Figure 5A
differences between group means. Groups sharing the same letter shows the Cd removal efficiency of P. pectinatus and
are not significantly different from each other, while groups with
different letters are significantly different. C. demerssum at different concentrations and different
Abbreviations: BOD: Biological oxygen demand; DO: Dissolved exposure time, with P. pectinatus and C. demerssum
oxygen. recording high rate of absorbed Cd at 85% and 72%,

Table 2. Floristic list for the associated species presents at the studied site in Lake El-Burullus located at
the northern deltaic region of Egypt
Family Species Life span Life form Habitat Chorotype
Lemnaceae Lemna gibba L. Ephemeral Hy Free floating COSM
Araceae Pistia stratiotes L. Perennial Hy PAN
Pontederiaceae Eichhornia crassipes L.
Azollaceae Azolla filiculoides Lam. F COSM
Ceratophyllaceae Ceratophyllum demerssum L. Submerged
Potamogetonaceae Potamogeton pectinatus L. Annual
Poaeceae Phragmites australis (Cav) Trin Perennial G, HE Amphibious COSM
Echinochloa stagnina (Retz.) P. Beanv. G, HE PAL
Paspalum paspalidum L. HE PAN
Typhaceae Typha domingensis Pers. Ch SA+IN
Polygonaceae Persicaria salicifolia G PAL
(Brouss. ex Willd.) Assenov
Abbreviations: Ch: Chamaeophytes; COSM: Cosmopolitan; G: Geophytes; He: Helophytes; Hy: Hydrophytes; PAL: Palaeotropical;
PAN: Pantropical; SA+IN: Sudanic-Arabian+Indo-Pacific (These are geographical areas).

Volume 22 Issue 4 (2025) 68 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025150105