Typha Angustifolia Research Articles

Study on hybrid biorack constructed wetland

Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (DWTS) based on natural mechanisms of purification are appropriate for Indian conditions. Biorack constructed wetland are recent developments in the domestic wastewater treatment. In the present study the concept of biorack wetland is extended to Hybrid Biorack Constructed Wetland (HBCW) in which bioracks are supplemented by brickbat as support medium for wetland vegetation. Three separate HBCW reactors were developed with Typha angustifolia, Canna indica and dual-species (Typha angustifolia and Canna indica). Batch studies were carried out on these reactors for secondary treatment of domestic wastewater. COD removal was determined for feed wastewater strength of 100 to 200 mg COD/L by these developed reactors. The growth of vegetation was also monitored. Typha angustifolia and Canna indica were found to be an appropriate combination as dual-species. The COD removal by dual-species is 5 to 10% greater than mono-species under similar conditions of feed and support medium. HBCW is efficient to an extent of 65 to 75% for COD removal. This is preliminary study conducted on HBCW. Further studies on pilot/field scale will provide better insight to assess its suitability as an alternative biological treatment.

Effectivity of constructed wetland using Typha angustifolia in analyzing the decrease of heavy metal (Fe) in acid mine drainage

Coal mining in Indonesia mostly done by open mining. The most severe problem in open mining activities is Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) production. Acid mine drainage contains heavy metal (Fe) that will impact now and future living creatures. One of the increasing of acid mine water treatment after the mining process is by using a constructed wetland method. This research aims to analyze constructed wetland effectiveness with rate variation, the number of plants, and material composition (compost, gravel, and limestone). The aims are also to examine local plant of Tifa (Typha angustifolia) ability on decreasing heavy metal (Fe) of acid mine drainage according to Kaltim Regulation Number 02 the year 2011 on water quality standard of coal industries. The study used the method of constructed wetland using a surface flow system, and a vertical ascending flow operated continuously using the elevation. The built wetlands design uses an intermediate bulk container tank with 100 cm x 100 cm x 100 x cm reactor dimension. The result shows that the decrease of the efficiency acid mine water on surface flow constructed wetland for Fe as follows in a row 70.88% (reactor 4), 57.88% (reactor 2). The best Fe metal content absorption is obtained on plant amount 15 treatment with 0.001 L/s rate, with iron content absorption 3294 ppm (40.11%). Fe metal content decrease on compost is obtained to 20% compost treatment with 0.001 L/s rate, with iron content decrease 8728 ppm (89.23%).

Distribution and Taxonomy of High Plant Species in Lake Karakir Bukhara Region

Lake Karakir (system of lakes) is located in the north west of Bukhara Oasis, it consists of 3 small lakes—a large karakir, a small karakir and an aquarium. The total area of the lake is 26.5 - 27.2 thousand hectares. As a result of the research carried out in Lake karakir, 16 families of high water plants, 34 species belonging to 24 categories were identified. The study was carried out mainly on a large spruce and an aquarium. Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. as the dominant species of high water plants, Typha angustifolia L., T. laxmannii Lepech., T. minima Funck. like species are most common.

Development of field-scale composite biorack constructed wetland – startup phase

Constructed Wetlands (CW) with Biorack (BR) technology have been studied extensively in recent years with positive outcomes compared to conventional CWs. A field scale application of the same has been worked upon in the Composite Biorack Constructed Wetland (CBCW) which is a secondary wastewater treatment facility of the Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System (DWTS) at Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli (M.S.), India. The CBCW is a multi-compartment system comprising of compartments with brickbats as supporting medium and BR Compartments (BRC) and has been in operation since May, 2018. The CBCW is vegetated with Typha angustifolia L. and Canna indica macrophytes. Being a unique CW, studies on difficulties aroused during the startup phase need to be addressed so as to arrive at proper troubleshooting techniques for future references. The paper addresses various issues, specifically growth of vegetation and their early wiltage in CBCW, for a period of 150 days. Using alternative modes of plantation, it is concluded that vegetation acclimatization, proper suspension and grip of the bulb and roots of saplings in racks, fluctuating inflow of wastewater are few reasons influencing development of vegetation. An improvement by about 12% is obtained in COD removal in the latter period of study implying establishing of vegetation in CBCW.

Removal of cadmium and copper from aqueous media by biosorption on cattail (Typha angustifolia) leaves: kinetic and isotherm studies

Removal of cadmium and copper from aqueous media by biosorption on cattail (Typha angustifolia) leaves: kinetic and isotherm studies

Enrichment of Type I Methanotrophs with <i>nirS</i> Genes of Three Emergent Macrophytes in a Eutrophic Wetland in China

The pmoA gene, encoding particulate methane monooxygenase in methanotrophs, and nirS and nirK genes, encoding bacterial nitrite reductases, were examined in the root and rhizosphere sediment of three common emergent macrophytes (Phragmites australis, Typha angustifolia, and Scirpus triqueter) and unvegetated sediment from eutrophic Wuliangsuhai Lake in China. Sequencing analyses indicated that 334 out of 351 cloned pmoA sequences were phylogenetically the most closely related to type I methanotrophs (Gammaproteobacteria), and Methylomonas denitrificans-like organisms accounted for 44.4% of the total community. In addition, 244 out of 250 cloned nirS gene sequences belonged to type I methanotrophs, and 31.2% of nirS genes were the most closely related to paddy rice soil clone SP-2-12 in Methylomonas of the total community. Three genera of type I methanotrophs, Methylomonas, Methylobacter, and Methylovulum, were common in both pmoA and nirS clone libraries in each sample. A quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis demonstrated that the copy numbers of the nirS and nirK genes were significantly higher in rhizosphere sediments than in unvegetated sediments in P. australis and T. angustifolia plants. In the same sample, the nirS gene copy number was significantly higher than that of nirK. Furthermore, type I methanotrophs were localized in the root tissues according to catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH). Thus, nirS-carrying type I methanotrophs were enriched in macrophyte root and rhizosphere sediment and are expected to play important roles in carbon/nitrogen cycles in a eutrophic wetland.

Performance Evaluation of Baffled and Floating Hybrid Constructed Wetland Operated Under Field Conditions

Baffled and Floating Hybrid Constructed Wetland (BFHCW) consisting of constructed wetland with brickbat medium and Floating Treatment Wetland (FTW) was developed and operated under actual field flow conditions. BFHCW was vegetated with dual-species (Typha angustifolia L. and Canna indica). The performance of continuously operated system was evaluated for varied Hydraulic Loading Rate (HLR) and Organic Loading Rate (OLR) for a longer period. The system was also assessed for controlled flow rate resulting more uniform OLR and HLR. The results showed that COD removal efficiency was enhanced by 5 to 15% with controlled flow than uncontrolled highly fluctuating flow conditions. HLR has more impact on COD removal than OLR. BFHCW is effective to an extent of 25 to 40% for COD removal. BFHCW is found to be cost effective and reasonably efficient treatment for pretreated domestic wastewater.

Water Level Fluctuation Requirements of Emergent Macrophyte Typha angustifolia L.

The management of water levels in wetlands is of great importance for the wetland ecosystem, including the conservation and revitalization of plants. However, the water level requirements (WLRs) of wetland plants have not been well investigated. In this study, Typha angustifolia was selected as an experimental plant species. Combining field investigation and simulation experiments, the relationship between the development status of this species and water level fluctuations (WLFs) in different life-history stages were analyzed. The results show that populations in the Yangtze floodplain, China, had two phenotypic forms ‘tall’ and ‘short’, and that these were distributed in lakes with intermittent or quasi-natural fluctuations and reservoir-like fluctuations, respectively. Lakes with high amplitude (>3.2 m) water fluctuations did not contain T. angustifolia. We investigated the distribution and growth of T. angustifolia in lakes of varying hydrology across the Yangtze floodplain, seeking to define its tolerance of water-level fluctuations and submergence at different stages in its life cycle. The upper tolerance limit of static submerged water depth was bounded by 1.5 times the height of plants in the seedling stage, and the upper tolerance limit of the submergence rate in the seedling stage was the average growth rate of seedling, 1.5 cm/d. The plant height had a positive linear correlation with amplitude and water depth from June to July. The autumn biomass was significantly negatively correlated with amplitude and water depth from January to May. This paper is perhaps the first case study on water level fluctuation requirements (WLFRs) of emergent macrophytes. It systematically assessed the WLFRs of T. angustifolia in each life-history stage, and established a comprehensive WLFR conceptual model. The results of this study could provide a quantitative operational basis for the protection and restoration of this species in Yangtze floodplain lakes.

Continuous removals of phenol, organics, thiocyanate and nitrogen in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland

The objective of the present study was to achieve treatment of phenol, thiocyanate and ammonia containing wastewater in a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland. Influent wastewater contained acetate of 850 mg/L, phenol of 92 mg/L, thiocyanate of 45 mg/L, ammonium nitrogen of 88 mg/L with chemical oxygen demand of 624 mg/L. The system was operated under aerial organic loading of 24.5 g COD/m2 d and volumetric organic loading of 65.4 g COD/m3 d. The CW was divided into four zones (zones I to IV) and operated in continuous flow mode at hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3 days. Typha angustifolia was planted in zone I, II and IV. Increase in ambient temperature improved pollutant removal in CW. Intermittent aeration and feed sodium acetate (carbon source) had a negligible effect on the performance of the CW. Phenol and COD removals were 99 % and 93 %, respectively and zone 1 was highly efficient for removal of organics. Feed alkalinity addition improved thiocyanate removal to 91 % and sulphate concentration increased in the effluent. Thiocyanate biodegradation followed both aerobic and anaerobic pathways. Ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen removal efficiencies varied between 17–30 % and 7–28 %, respectively, and the removal might be mainly due to plant uptake. Typha angustifolia grew well in the wetland without showing any toxicity effects.

Fabrication and characterization of metal oxide and lignocelluloses fibers based working electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

The working electrode is considered a major component of the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) to influence the efficiency and morphology attributes in different high-tech applications. This study presents the fabrication of flexible composite sheets of titanium dioxide (TiO2) by incorporation of natural lignocelluloses fibers extracted from the self-growing plant, Typha Angustifolia to address the inherent rigid structure and superior absorption properties of the working electrode. Furthermore, fabricated TiO2 based composites were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy and employed as a working electrode for DSSC after deposition on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate. SEM morphology reveals that LC fibers acted as a thread to bind the TiO2 nanoparticles and also with better voids for adsorption of electrolyte whereas FTIR spectroscopy confirms the successful formation of the paper composite. J-V measurements reveal the high efficiency of 2.95% for TiO2/LC flexible and environmentally safe composite which can be feasible for modern bendable DSSC.

Selenite antagonizes the phytotoxicity of Cd in the cattail Typha angustifolia.

The Phytotoxicity of and mechanism underlying selenite-mediated tolerance to Cd stress in Typha angustifolia were studied hydroponically with respect to metal uptake and translocation, photosynthesis-related parameters, contents of proline and O2•-, products of lipid peroxidation, cell viability, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, glyoxalases and phytochelatins. T. angustifolia were exposed to 25, 50 and 100μM of Cd alone and in conjunction with 5mgL-1 of selenite in full-strength Hoagland's nutrient solution for 30 days. Results showed that Cd contents in T. angustifolia leaves and roots increased in a dose-dependent manner and were higher in roots, but those of BAC, BCF and TF changed in a contrary pattern. Addition of selenite to Cd-containing treatments further reduced Cd levels in T. angustifolia leaves and roots, as well as BAC, BCF and TF. A diphasic effect was found in T. angustifolia for the contents of total chlorophyll, GSH, PC and GSSG, as well as activities of CAT, POD, SOD and GR, in response to Cd stress alone and in conjunction with selenite supplementation, but the same effect was not observed for Pn, Cond, Tr, Ci, Fv/Fm and ϕPSII. In contrast, exogenous selenite supplementation enhanced the contents of total chlorophyll and the non-enzymatic antioxidants, as well as activities of enzymatic antioxidants, while the values of photosynthetic fluorescence parameters were rescued. Selenite addition decreased Cd-induced cell death. Proline contents and Gly I activities in T. angustifolia leaves kept increasing in a dose-dependent manner of Cd concentrations in the growth media and selenite addition further enhanced both parameters. Addition of selenite could quench Cd-mediated generation of MDA, O2•- and MG in T. angustifolia leaves and reduce Cd-induced Gly II activity. A U-shaped GSH/GSSG ratio in T. angustifolia leaves suggests a possible trade-off between PC synthesis and GR activity since both share the same substrate GSH. Therefore, confined BAC, BCF and TF were a mechanism that confers T. angustifolia tolerance to Cd stress, and that exogenous selenite supplementation could depress Cd-induced stress in T. angustifolia by rescuing the photosynthetic fluorescence, enhancing non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants that scavenge O2•- and MG, and potentiating PC synthesis that chelates Cd.

Phytoremediation Potential of Macrophytes of Urban Waterbodies in Central India.

Background.India's rapidly increasing population and growing urbanization pose a great challenge for wastewater treatment efforts, leading to increased pollution of surrounding waterbodies.Objectives.A field sampling-based study was conducted to analyze water quality, heavy metals and bioconcentration and bioaccumulation in the roots and shoots of naturally growing vegetation in an urban lake, Laxmi Taal. The lake receives domestic sewage from Jhansi city in Central India.Methods.Temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, and water-soluble ions were measured with appropriate instruments. Plant accumulation of metals was measured with the bioconcentration factor (BCF), the ratio of metal concentration in the root to wastewater. The translocation factor (TF) was estimated as the ratio of metal concentration in the shoot to the root.Results.Water quality and heavy metal concentrations were found to be within the prescribed limit as per Indian standards IS-2296 “D”. In the present study, BCF was assessed to be >1 and the plants Typha angustifolia and Echhornia crassipus were determined to be accumulator plants. The TF study revealed that translocation of all the metals studied were significant, except for manganese (Mn), where concentration was found to be below detection limit.Conclusions.The present study validated that Typha angustifolia and Echhornia crassipus could be used for bioremediation purposes in cases of urban waterbodies receiving varying amounts of domestic wastewaters which have relatively limited concentrations of toxic metals.Competing Interests.The authors declare no competing financial interests

A Tripartite Interaction among the Basidiomycete Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, N2-Fixing Endobacteria, and Rice Improves Plant Nitrogen Nutrition.

Nitrogen (N) limits crop yield, and improvement of N nutrition remains a key goal for crop research; one approach to improve N nutrition is identifying plant-interacting, N2-fixing microbes. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa JGTA-S1 is a basidiomycetous yeast endophyte of narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia). JGTA-S1 could not convert nitrate or nitrite to ammonium but harbors diazotrophic (N2-fixing) endobacteria (Pseudomonas stutzeri) that allow JGTA-S1 to fix N2 and grow in a N-free environment; moreover, P. stutzeri dinitrogen reductase was transcribed in JGTA-S1 even under adequate N. Endobacteria-deficient JGTA-S1 had reduced fitness, which was restored by reintroducing P. stutzeri JGTA-S1 colonizes rice (Oryza sativa), significantly improving its growth, N content, and relative N-use efficiency. Endofungal P. stutzeri plays a significant role in increasing the biomass and ammonium content of rice treated with JGTA-S1; also, JGTA-S1 has better N2-fixing ability than free-living P. stutzeri and provides fixed N to the plant. Genes involved in N metabolism, N transporters, and NODULE INCEPTION-like transcription factors were upregulated in rice roots within 24 h of JGTA-S1 treatment. In association with rice, JGTA-S1 has a filamentous phase and P. stutzeri only penetrated filamentous JGTA-S1. Together, these results demonstrate an interkingdom interaction that improves rice N nutrition.

Ecology and control of Typha species in Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands, Nigeria

Abstract. Abdullahi YBY, Balarabe ML, Khan AU, Adamu AK. 2019. Ecology and control of Typha species in Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands, Nigeria. Bonorowo Wetlands 9: 71-91. Typha proliferation causes several ecological problems, including transforming aquatic environments into terrestrial ones, interfering with various methods of catching fish, blockading river channels, and impeding navigation. The Hadejia Nguru wetland in Nigeria has an area of about 58,100 hectares, of which Typha species infested 35,000 hectares. The wetlands were divided into three sections, i.e., Upper, Middle, and Lower. In these segments, Typha species, water, soil, and sediment samples were collected, and the impact of Typha species on fish catch and distribution was assessed by splitting each segment into two sections: Typha uninfested and Typha infested. Each segment was separated into four sections for the biological control, each containing 2000 individuals of Typha interplant with 50kg, 25kg, 10kg, and no Phragmites karka, respectively. Each segment was manually separated into six sections as cutting Typha 15 cm, 10 cm, 5 cm below and 15 cm, 10 cm, 5 cm above the water. Each segment was divided into four sections for physical control, i.e., single black tarpaulin, double, triple, and no black tarpaulin. Typha latifolia and Typha angustifolia made up 64-70% and 30% of Typha species of the wetlands, respectivelyPhysico-chemical physics-chemical characteristics of water and sediment exposed substantial fluctuations, with PO4-P, NO3-N, and Mg concentrations ranging from 3.5-13.5 mg/L, 3-13 mg/L, and 1-10 mg/L, respectively. phosphate-phosphorus concentrations in the sediment ranged from 6.5 to 16 mg/kg, nitrate-nitrogen concentrations from 6 to 14 mg/kg, and organic matter concentrations from 4 to 12 mg/kg. The results also showed that high PO4-P, NO3-N, and Mg concentrations in water promote Typha development and proliferation. Sediment phosphate-phosphorus, nitrate-nitrogen, and organic matter concentrations showed a similar trend. The concentrations of water PO4-P, NO3-N, Mg, and sediment PO4-P, NO3-N, and Organic matter throughout the three segments revealed that the upper channel had a higher concentration than the middle, and the middle course had a higher concentration than the lower course. The distribution of T. latifolia and T. angustifolia followed the same pattern. The influence on fish catches and distribution revealed that open water had the maximum quantity and weight of fish taken, ranging from 83,167 to 173,026 kg and 14,402 to 59,355 kg, respectively, compared to Typha infested areas. Biological, manual, and physical strategies were used to control the spread of Typha. Biological control with P. karka reduced Typha species proliferation by 25%, with manual cutting at 15 cm below water level accounting for 95% of overall control. Typha proliferation was reduced by 54% when a black tarpaulin provided shade. Cutting at 15cm below the water's surface provided the finest control. Farmers should be educated on proper farming practices, particularly those that include manure rather than inorganic fertilizer. The optimum time to control Typha is when their density is low during the wet season.

Distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in aquatic plant-based systems: From soil adsorption and plant uptake to effects on microbial community

This study systematically explored the distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) through soil adsorption and plant bioaccumulation in aquatic plant-based systems, derived from a surface flow constructed wetland (CW) planted with Typha angustifolia. The water-soil-plant systems were fortified with eight perfluoroalkyl subsntances (PFASs) at different concentrations. The potential for individual PFAS adsorption onto soil substrate and bioaccumulation in the plants increased with the increasing PFAS initial concentrations. Longer-chain PFASs exhibited higher affinity to soil substrate compared to shorter-chain PFASs. The highest concentration in the soil was observed for PFOS (51.3 ng g−1), followed by PFHxS (9.39 ng g−1), and PFOA (5.53 ng g−1) at low PFAS level. The perfluoroalkyl chain length dependent trend was also seen in the roots with the highest individual PFAS concentration for PFOS (68.9 ng g−1), followed by PFOA (18.5 ng g−1) and PFHxS (13.4 ng g−1). By contrast, shorter-chain PFASs were preferentially translocated from roots to shoots in Typha angustifolia. A significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between bioaccumulation factor (BAFplant/water) (whole plant) and perfluoroalkyl chain length was observed. PFASs content in the plant compartments increased with increasing PFAS concentrations in the soil. Mass balance analysis indicates that approximately 40.7–99.6% of PFAS mass added to the system was adsorbed onto the soil and bioaccumulated in the plant tissues of T. angustifolia. Soil adsorption played a vital role in PFAS mass distribution. The results of Illumina high-throughput sequencing show that the bacterial diversity decreased upon PFAS exposure. The most predominant phyla retrieved were Proteobacteria (24.7–39.3%), followed by Actinobacteria (4.2–41.1%), Verrucomicrobia (7.9–25.1%), Bacteroidetes (10.2–20.4%), Cyanobacteria (0.4–16.5%), and Firmicutes (1.1–6.4%). The PFAS enrichment caused the changes (p > 0.05) in the structure and composition of bacterial community. This study helps to gain insight into a better understanding of the potential for PFASs distribution in an aquatic plant-based system and the impact on dynamic of microbial community exposed to PFASs.

Drained water quality in sludge treatment wetlands: Effects of earthworm densities and plant species

Earthworms can improve sludge dewatering and stabilization in sludge treatment wetlands (STWs). However, drained water quality in STWs with earthworm addition is not well known. In this study, the combination of two plant species (Phragmites australis and Typha angustifolia) and earthworm (Eisenia foetida) densities of 2.7, 5.4, 8.1, 10.8, 13.5 and 16.2 kg/m3 in six STWs were investigated to evaluate their effects on drained water quality. Meanwhile, clogging characterization of the six STWs was evaluated. The results showed that filtration rates in the three earthworm STWs were 0–0.4 cm/s higher than those in the STWs without earthworm addition. P. australis and T. angustifolia had positive effects on chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and ammonium (NH4+) removal, with removal efficiencies all over 80%. Moreover, NH4+ removal efficiency was significantly different between P. australis and T. angustifolia; the higher NH4+ removal efficiencies of 89.5–90.4% were determined in the two P. australis STWs. Meanwhile, canonical correlation analysis and principal component analysis indicated that the combination of plants and earthworms was beneficial for drained water treatment in the STWs. Furthermore, the optimum drained water treatment was determined in the P. australis STWs with an earthworm density of 10.8 kg/m3, with the mass removal efficiencies for COD, NH4+, TN and TP being 99.1%, 93.1%, 91.5% and 91.0%, respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that P. australis and earthworm addition improved drained water quality and alleviated clogging in the STWs.

Invasive cattail reduces fish diversity and abundance in the emergent marsh of a Great Lakes coastal wetland

Great Lakes coastal wetlands (GLCWs) provide critical fish habitat. The invasion of GLCWs by hybrid and narrow-leaved cattail, Typha × glauca and Typha angustifolia (hereafter Typha), homogenizes wetlands by out-competing native plant species and producing copious litter. However, the effect of this invasion on fish communities is little known. To measure the effect of Typha on fishes, we established plots in Typha invaded and native wetland emergent zones in a northern Lake Michigan coastal wetland, and measured environmental variables, plants, and fishes in each zone over two summers. Dissolved oxygen and water temperature were significantly lower in invaded compared to native plots. Invaded plots were dominated by Typha and its litter; whereas. sedges (Carex spp.) were the most abundant species in native plots. Fish abundance and species richness were significantly lower in Typha compared to native wetland plots. The Typha fish community was dominated by hypoxia tolerant mudminnow whereas other small, schooling, fusiform species such as cyprinids and fundulids were absent. These results illustrate the negative impact of a dominant invasive plant on Great Lakes fishes that is expected to be found in Typha invasions in other GLCWs.

The role of helophyte species on nitrogen and phosphorus retention from wastewater treatment plant effluents

In the Mediterranean region, water scarcity compromises stream water quality particularly downstream of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). We tested the potential of four helophyte species to reduce dissolved inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from WWTP effluents. We conducted an 11-month mesocosm experiment to assess differences in N and P content among plant compartments and among species. Moreover, we quantified the relative contribution of above and belowground parts of the plants to N and P retention. The experiment was conducted at the Urban River Laboratory (www.urbanriverlab.com) in artificial channels (12 m long x 0.6 m wide x 0.4 m deep) planted with monospecific stands of Iris pseudoacorus, Typha angustifolia, Phragmites australis and Scirpus lacustris. Channels (three replicates per species) received water from the WWTP effluent, which flowed at a constant rate of 5 L min−1 through the sub-surface. The helophytes were planted in November 2014 and biomass standing stocks of carbon (C), N and P were measured in October 2015 at the time of maximum plant biomass. Differences in the concentration of N and P were larger among plant compartments than among species. The highest N concentration was measured in leaves while rhizomes showed the highest P concentration. The total plant biomass varied greatly among species from 11.4 to 4.6 Kg DW m−2 for Iris and Scirpus, respectively. Iris accumulated the highest amount of N (256 g N m−2) and P (27 g P m−2) in biomass. Plants retained from 8% (Scirpus) to 19% (Iris) of total dissolved inorganic N inputs to the channels (10.4 kg N) during the experiment, and from 6% (Phragmites) to 14% (Iris) of total dissolved inorganic P inputs (1.3 kg P). This study provides quantitative evidence to water managers of the potential role of helophytes to improve water quality in freshwater ecosystems receiving water from WWTP effluents.

Invasive aquatic plant (Alternanthera philoxeroides) facilitates the invasion of western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) in Yangtze River, China

We investigated the seasonal habitat selection of Mosquitofish to increase our understanding of the ecology and invasiveness of this species. Sampling was conducted during the reproductive and non-reproductive season of Mosquitofish in four habitat types: Alternanthera philoxeroides habitat, Typha angustifolia habitat, Paspalum distichum habitat, and no vegetation habitat. Mosquitofish catch per unit effort was significantly lower in Typha habitat than in the other three habitats during the reproductive season. T. angustifolia can exude allelopathic chemicals and have the potential to negatively influence western Mosquitofish abundance. In the non-reproductive season, catch per unit effort of Mosquitofish were significantly higher in Alternanthera habitat than in the other three habitats. These results suggest that mats of A. philoxeroides provided an insulating layer for Mosquitofish overwintering. Therefore, Mosquitofish could expand its range further north in China as A. philoxeroides spreads northward with climate change. We suggest that an effective way of controlling western Mosquitofish is through eradication of the invasive macrophyte (A. philoxeroides) stands while retaining and restoring more native emergent macrophyte (T. angustifolia) stands; this strategy could limit overwintering habitat for western Mosquitofish and may draw them into open water habitats where they can be more easily removed.

Phenology and population structure of the Mediterranean stripe-necked terrapin &lt;em&gt;Mauremys leprosa&lt;/em&gt; (Schweigger, 1812) in the Reghaïa Lake (northern Algeria)

&#x0D; &#x0D; The Mediterranean stripe-necked terrapin is a freshwater turtle widely distributed in southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa, but whose natural history is little known. In this study we investigated the ecology of a population in northern Algeria (Reghaïa Lake Ramsar Reserve), with special emphasis on its phenology, demographic structure and diet, based on capture and recapture methods. Our results indicated that there is a short inactivity period in January and possibly the activity is also reduced during the month of August. The best Jolly-Seber model indicated that the population within the survey station had a minimum size of 653 specimens. The population contained a higher proportion of males (0.68 - 0.76) and a proportion of juveniles between 0.02 - 0.16. Females were larger and relatively heavier than males. Analysis of stomach contents showed that M. leprosa feeds with high frequency on aquatic arthropods. Specifically, we found insects: Diptera (Chironomidae, Culicidae, Dixidae, Syrphidae), Heteroptera (Corixidae, Notonectidae) and Coleoptera (Dytiscidae), crustaceans (Branchiopoda, Ostracoda), plant matter (Typha angustifolia), fish (Gambusia holbrooki), and unidentified materials.