Carbon sequestration capacity and productivity responses of Mediterranean olive groves under future climates and management options

The need to reduce the expected impact of climate change, finding sustainable ways to maintain or increase the carbon (C) sequestration capacity and productivity of agricultural systems, is one of the most important challenges of the twenty-first century. Olive (Olea europaea L.) groves can play a fundamental role due to their potential to sequester C in soil and woody compartments, associated with widespread cultivation in the Mediterranean basin. The implementation of field experiments to assess olive grove responses under different conditions, complemented by simulation models, can be a powerful approach to explore future land-atmosphere C feedbacks. The DayCent biogeochemical model was calibrated and validated against observed net ecosystem exchange, net primary productivity, aboveground biomass, leaf area index, and yield in two Italian olive groves. In addition, potential changes in C-sequestration capacity and productivity were assessed under two types of management (extensive and intensive), 35 climate change scenarios (ΔT-temperature from +?0 °C to +?3 °C; ΔP-precipitation from 0.0 to ??20%), and six areas across the Mediterranean basin (Brindisi, Coimbra, Crete, Cordoba, Florence, and Montpellier). The results indicated that (i) the DayCent model, properly calibrated, can be used to quantify olive grove daily net ecosystem exchange and net primary production dynamics; (ii) a decrease in net ecosystem exchange and net primary production is predicted under both types of management by approaching the most extreme climate conditions (ΔT?=?+?3 °C; ΔP?=???20%), especially in dry and warm areas; (iii) irrigation can compensate for net ecosystem exchange and net primary production losses in almost all areas, while ecophysiological air temperature thresholds determine the magnitude and sign of C-uptake; (iv) future warming is expected to modify the seasonal net ecosystem exchange and net primary production pattern, with higher photosynthetic activity in winter and a prolonged period of photosynthesis inhibition during summer compared to the baseline; (v) a substantial decrease in mitigation capacity and productivity of extensively managed olive groves is expected to accelerate between +?1.5 and +?2 °C warming compared to the current period, across all Mediterranean areas; (vi) adaptation measures aimed at increasing soil water content or evapotranspiration reduction should be considered the mostly suitable for limiting the decrease of both production and mitigation capacity in the next decades.

     

Long-term dynamics of biomass production, soil chemical properties and plant species composition of alluvial grassland after the cessation of fertilizer application in the Czech Republic

The resilience, the ability of an ecosystem to recover after termination of perturbation, of highly productive Alopecurus grassland was investigated after the cessation of the following long-term fertilizer treatments applied under a two- or three-cut management regime: unfertilized control, PK, N₁₀₀PK, N₂₀₀PK, N₃₀₀PK and N₄₀₀PK. Annual application rates of pure nutrients per hectare were 0–400 kg for N, 40 kg for P and 100 kg for K. The dynamics of biomass production were measured for 16 years and the effect of former fertilizer treatments on soil chemical properties, biomass chemical properties, plant species composition and species richness were investigated 16 years after the last application of fertilizers. It was concluded that 16 years was not long enough to achieve resilience in plant-available soil P and K concentrations, N/P ratios in the plant biomass or plant species composition, but that it was long enough to achieve resilience in species richness. In the case of biomass production the effect of former fertilizer treatments was apparent in 10 of the 16 seasons investigated, indicating that resilience in biomass production must be evaluated using data from more than 1 vegetation season. The results of the study stress the necessity for long-term research because of high year-to-year variability in biomass production as well as long-term after-effects of fertilizer treatments in alluvial grassland.     

不同替代修复年限对飞机草种群和本土植物群落结构的影响

为研究替代修复对飞机草的治理效果以及对本地植物群落结构的修复效应,选择修复3、5、10 a和未修复（CK）的飞机草入侵生境为研究对象,调查飞机草密度、盖度、生物量、基径和本土植物群落的物种多样性、盖度等指标,采用“空间代替时间”的方法,分析不同修复年限飞机草种群特征和本地植物群落结构的变化.结果表明:①随着修复年限的增加,飞机草密度、盖度、基径、生物量等指标均呈显著降低趋势;修复10 a后,飞机草的盖度、密度、生物量、基径相比对照分别降低了97.3%、96.5%、98.6%、85.7%,飞机草入侵得到明显控制.②在植被替代修复过程中,飞机草入侵生境的群落结构得到明显改善,草本层物种多样性呈先升后降再升的趋势,草本层盖度在修复3 a后显著升高随后又显著降低,灌木层和乔木层物种多样性和盖度均呈显著增加趋势.研究显示,替代修复能有效治理飞机草入侵,促进植物群落的正向演替,提高本地植物群落结构的稳定性,增强生态系统对外来物种入侵的抵抗力.      

黄土高原子午岭植被自然恢复下的固碳特征

为分析黄土高原生态脆弱区植被自然恢复的碳汇效应和植被群落特征变化对生态系统碳密度的影响,采用时空互代的方法,研究了子午岭地区150 a恢复年限内8个演替阶段{坡耕地、撂荒10 a草地、20 a草地、白刺花[Sophora davidii(Franch.) Skeels.]、白桦(Betula platyphylla Suk.)、油松(Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.)、辽东栎(Quercus wutaishanic Mary)+油松(Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.)混交林和辽东栎}下植被-土壤系统的固碳特征,探讨了群落特征变化对植被-土壤系统碳密度的影响.结果表明,调查植被群落盖度从坡耕地阶段的85%波动增加到乔木阶段的100%.物种数量、Margalef指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou指数和Simpson指数总体呈现出先快速增加后缓慢降低直至趋向稳定的变化特征,演替中期(白桦)达到峰值.植被各组分(地上生物、地下根系、枯落物)的生物量和碳密度在演替过程中呈指数函数关系增加,即白桦以前增加缓慢,白桦和油松阶段显著增加(P<...     

丛枝菌根真菌及猪炭对多氯联苯污染土壤的联合修复作用

选用玉米(Zea mays L.)为供试植物,采用盆栽试验研究了接种丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM)真菌(Funneliformis mosseae)和添加不同粒径猪炭对多氯联苯(Polychlorinated biphenyls,PCBs)污染土壤的联合修复效应及其对土壤微生物的影响.结果表明,接种AM真菌(10%接种量)及添加2.5%猪炭对土壤有效磷含量提高具有显著的协同效应,猪炭还显著提高了土壤有机碳、速效钾含量和pH值(p0.05);猪炭显著促进了菌根真菌侵染率,但对玉米根系生物量具有抑制作用.接种AM真菌的同时添加猪炭提高了细菌16S rDNA丰度,且接种AM真菌同时添加粒径0.25 mm猪炭显著促进了土壤PCBs降解率.AM真菌与猪炭改变了土壤微生物种群的相对丰度,其中,Planctomycetes与土壤三氯联苯降解显著相关(r=0.049,p0.05),而Acidobacteria与五氯联苯降解显著相关(r=0.008,p0.01).AM真菌及猪炭提高了土壤有效养分含量,促进了植物生物量和土壤PCBs降解,对PCBs污染土壤具有较好的修复潜力.     

矿山复垦区女贞人工林生态系统碳的源汇效应

采用LI-8100土壤碳通量测定系统,测定了淮南大通煤矿塌陷复垦区女贞人工林土壤碳排放动态,并结合生物量调查,建立相对生长模型,对复垦区女贞林生态系统碳的源汇效应及其特征进行了研究。结果表明:复垦区女贞林生态系统年生物量碳增量为7.72 t/(hm~2·a),其中乔木层占81.22%,林下植被占4.02%,枯死掉落物占14.76%;乔木层生物量碳年增量大小顺序依次为树干树枝树根树叶,在乔木层中所占的比例依次为54.7%、22.37%、16.9%、6.06%;女贞林生态系统年净生态系统生产力NEP值为1.87 t/(hm~2·a),表明复垦区女贞林生态系统整体表现为碳汇,其中乔木层对碳汇的贡献率占77.54%。     

Herbaceous layer production and utilization by herbivores under different ecological conditions in an arid savanna of Kenya

A three-year study was done to determine herbaceous biomass production and its utilization by herbivores in an arid zone inhabited by a largely nomadic population in northern Kenya. The indicator selected for study was aboveground live standing biomass of grasses, forbs, dwarf shrubs and the total sum biomass of these vegetation categories (total herbaceous layer). Sampling was done along grazing gradients in order to estimate the utilization levels in the arid zone 7 and the semi-arid zone 6. Mean peak standing biomass for grasses, forbs, dwarf shrubs and total herbaceous layer under non-grazed conditions was 184.4, 374.2, 1094.4 and 1504.0 kg/ha in eco-zone 7, respectively. In the zone 6, mean peak standing biomass was 55.3, 98.8, 4259.1 and 4320.1 kg/ha under non-grazed conditions, respectively. Results indicated graminoid removal to be respectively 57.1–99.8% and 24.2–87.2% of mean peak standing aboveground live biomass in the zone 7 and 6. Forb utilization in zone 7 was estimated to be 51.5–99.3%. Mean peak forb standing biomass however, showed a general increase on grazed sites compared to the non-grazed plot in zone 6. The corresponding utilization of the dwarf shrub layer was estimated to be in the range 40.5–80.0% and 76.6–92.3% in zone 7 and 6 respectively. Total herbaceous layer consumption of 39.3–85.3% and 74.0–90% was estimated for zone 7 and 6 respectively. These findings suggest that herbivores exert considerable control over biomass dynamics of the herbaceous layer in this zone and contribute to degradation in heavily utilised areas. Efforts to understand and tackle the desertification problem in this area must therefore take this fact into account.     

三江源区退化天然草地和人工草地生物量碳密度特征

生物量碳密度是生态系统表征碳截存能力的重要功能特征之一。为明晰三江源区高寒草地生物量碳密度特征,选取源区内3个县（玛沁县、甘德县、达日县）的退化天然草地（黑土滩）、退化人工草地、未退化天然草地为研究对象,通过野外调查取样和室内分析相结合的方法,对样区地上生物量、根系生物量及其碳密度进行测定与分析。结果表明：“黑土滩”地上生物量高于退化人工草地和天然草地;“黑土滩”活根和死根生物量都低于天然草地和退化人工草地。退化人工草地、“黑土滩”和天然草地的总生物量碳密度分别为719.47、706.57和2 233.09 g/m²。草地退化不仅改变了生态系统的生物量分配,而且改变了地上部分、活根和死根中的碳密度分配比例。退化人工草地和天然草地的活根和死根碳密度占总生物量碳密度的90%以上,“黑土滩”活根和死根碳密度占79.41%。活根碳密度与总生物量碳密度的比值在3种不同草地群落间的变化较地上植被和死根的大,因此,活根碳密度比例可以作为草地退化的敏感指标。     

黄土丘陵区自然恢复与人工修复流域生态效益对比分析

论文以陕西吴起县柴沟和合家沟为例,通过样地的植被和土壤调查,在小流域尺度上分析了退耕10 a后人工修复和自然恢复方式生物多样性、生物量、群落特征和土壤物理性质的差异。结果表明:两者草本群落结构相近,相似性系数为0.925。人工修复区乔灌草三层的层盖度和为99.03%,三层的物种数和为85,草本层的株均高为0.41 m,还有该层的物种丰富度指数、多样性指数、均匀度指数均高于自然恢复区;而平均生物量、群落密度、土壤含水率、土壤容重和毛管孔隙度分别为5.890 t.hm-2、8.11×105株.hm-2、8.8%、1.251 g.cm-3和48.9%,均低于自然恢复区。两区土壤指标的变异系数变化较为复杂。     

植被恢复对刺萼龙葵根际土壤细菌群落结构与功能的影响

入侵植物可以改变入侵地土壤微生物群落,从而有助于其入侵,在前期研究中发现,植被恢复措施可有效控制刺萼龙葵（Solanum rostratum）的入侵,但植被恢复前后刺萼龙葵根际土壤细菌群落结构与功能尚未清楚.选取了前期研究中的2个植被组合：沙打旺（Astragalus adsurgens）+披碱草（Elymus dahuricus）+无芒雀麦（Bromus inermis）（T1）;沙打旺+苇状羊茅（Festuca arundinacea）+冰草（Agropyron cristatum）+羊草（Leymus chinensis）（T2）,并选取刺萼龙葵（SR）及本地植被（NR）作为对照,采用16S rDNA MiSeq高通量测序技术研究刺萼龙葵入侵及植被恢复后刺萼龙葵根际细菌群落组成,同时采用PICRUSt功能预测分析其功能.结果表明,刺萼龙葵入侵（SR）后Simpson指数和Chao1指数均高于本地植被（NP）,但未达到显著水平,而植被恢复（T1和T2）后,Shannon指数和Chao1指数显著降低（P<0.05）.刺萼龙葵（SR）显著降低了变形菌门（Proteobacteria）中的微枝形杆菌属（Microvirga）、斯科曼氏菌属（Skermanella）、鞘氨醇单胞菌属（Sphingomonas）及酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）的Bryobacter属相对丰度（P<0.05）,而植被恢复后,这些菌属丰度也随之上升.RDA分析结果显示,土壤有机质、总氮、总磷、总钾和速效钾是影响细菌群落组成的重要因素.PICRUSt功能预测分析表明,刺萼龙葵入侵显著提高了氨基酸合成（biosynthesis of amino acids）、嘌呤代谢（purine metabolism）、嘧啶代谢（pyrimidine metabolism）、核糖体（ribosome）和氨酰-tRNA合成（aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis）等方面的功能,而植被恢复以后其相对丰度显著降低.本文探讨了刺萼龙葵入侵及植被恢复后根际细菌群落和功能,为刺萼龙葵的入侵机制及生态恢复提供理论依据.     

嘉兴市石臼漾水源生态湿地运行过程中植物多样性研究

浙江省嘉兴市石臼漾水源生态湿地是目前全国最大的水源保护湿地之一.为了解已实际运行2.5 a的石臼漾水源生态湿地植被现状,于2010年10～11月,采用样地法和样方法对湿地植被进行了系统调查,以期为水源生态湿地植被管理提供理论支持.对群落的物种组成、多样性变化以及生物质生产量进行了分析.共采集到湿地植物70种,隶属于28...     

生物滞留对城市地表径流磷的去除途径

根据武汉城市地表径流水文变化以及磷污染特征,通过1 a模拟运行监测,研究了生物滞留种植植物(狼尾草)、设置饱和带对城市地表径流溶解性磷(PO3-4-P)去除的影响及去除途径.结果表明,生物滞留采用75%河砂与25%当地黄棕壤混合基质,对地表径流PO3-4-P的平均去除率可达到90%以上.生物滞留种植狼尾草可显著降低出水PO3-4-P浓度.生物滞留设置饱和带可进一步提高对PO3-4-P的去除,不影响出水TP浓度.生物滞留通过基质吸附去除地表径流中的磷,表现为0~22.5 cm基质剖面中植物有效磷的增加,约占试验期间进水磷负荷的50%.从生物滞留系统磷输入(进水)与输出(出水与植物地上部分)角度分析,种植狼尾草一个生长周期地上部分吸收的磷可占进水磷负荷57.1%~76.1%,定期收割植物地上部分可作为城市地表径流磷可持续管理的主要途径.     

围封对固沙樟子松林下植被群落数量特征及多样性的影响

为揭示围封对人工樟子松固沙林林下植被群落及生态系统的影响,选择章古台围封37年生和46年生固沙樟子松林为研究对象,以邻近未围封林地为对照,采用野外调查法研究不同条件下樟子松林下植被的群落特征与物种多样性。结果表明:研究区共发现林下植被58种,分属18科42属,围封条件下促进禾本科植物与多年生植物种有所增加,多年生及灌木植物的重要值增大。围封降低先锋物种的重要值,明显增加羊草的重要值。围封有利于增加固沙樟子松林下植被群落的平均盖度、高度和生物量,而且随着围封年限的增加呈现不同程度的增长趋势;林下植被群落的物种多样性指数、优势度指数、均匀度指数在半围封5年较未围封状态略高,而在全围封10年则均低于未围封状态。因此,围封有利于樟子松林下植被群落的恢复与生长,适度的围封有利于林下群落多样性,进而保障群落的演替及生态系统稳定性的维持。     

成都平原及其周边区域植被覆盖动态监测

利用Landsat TM/OLI遥感数据、DEM和地貌数据,基于像元二分模型、遥感与GIS技术对2007~2013年成都平原及周边区域的植被覆盖动态变化进行了估算,并结合高程、坡度、坡向和地貌数据,定量分析了汶川地震前、后植被受损与恢复的空间动态格局变化。研究表明:(1)植被覆盖总体良好,近一半区域的植被覆盖度均在中、高度以上,空间格局上呈现由西部的龙门山区向中部的平原区域降低的总体趋势;(2)地震造成植被受损面积约6.91×105 hm~2,集中分布于海拔324~800 m、坡度20°、东坡、南坡和西坡及山地地貌部位;(3)震后5 a,植被恢复面积约4.88×105 hm~2,主要分布海拔324~1 000 m、坡度30°、平缓坡、南坡、东坡和西坡、丘陵和大起伏山地以下区域;(4)高程、坡度和地貌对植被损毁与恢复的影响明显高于坡向。     

芦竹和木本植物间种修复重金属污染土壤

通过温室盆栽实验,研究草本植物芦竹与木本植物构树、桑树间种修复重金属污染土壤的潜力.结果表明,重金属污染土壤上芦竹与构树、桑树间种有利于植物的生长,提高植物对污染土壤中重金属的富集能力,并有效改善土壤酶活性.重金属污染土壤上单种芦竹、构树和桑树的叶片光合色素含量随着修复时间的延长呈下降趋势,而芦竹与构树、桑树间种修复270 d后,构树叶片叶绿素a和类胡萝卜素含量,桑树叶片叶绿素b和类胡萝卜素含量均与修复初期(90 d)相比无显著差异;桑树叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b以及类胡萝卜素含量较单种桑树分别显著(P 0. 05)提高99. 1%、177. 1%和119. 9%,且整株生物量显著(P 0. 05)提高26. 1%.芦竹-构树间种下植物地上部分Pb和Zn总量较单种芦竹分别显著(P 0. 05)提高171%和124%;芦竹-桑树间种下植物地上部分As和Pb总量较单种桑树和芦竹修复分别显著(P 0. 05)提高150%和76. 5%.芦竹与构树、桑树间种修复270 d后,污染土壤中As、Cd、Pb和Zn的赋存形态无明显变化,而且土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶和总磷酸酶活性明显优于部分单一植物修复.上述结果表明,芦竹与构树、桑树间种可有效用于重金属污染土壤修复,还可改善污染土壤的环境质量.     

类芦植被对煤矸石堆场特征金属的富集特征及生物有效性的影响

以贵阳市花溪区麦坪乡废弃煤矿矸石堆场为研究区域,选择经过长期自然恢复定居于煤矸石堆场上的类芦植被为研究对象,研究类芦植被参与对煤矸石中特征金属(Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn)的富集特征、空间分布以及生物有效性的影响。结果表明:类芦植被参与下,煤矸石堆场特征金属在空间上主要分布在根系层和表层,且类芦地上部分对Mn和Fe、Cu、Zn的富集系数分别大于(比值1)和小于地下部分(比值1),类芦各部位金属含量的检测结果表明,Mn和Fe、Cu、Zn被类芦吸收后分别储存于地上部分(茎叶)和地下部分(根部)。类芦植被对Mn(3.62)和Fe(0.32)、Cu(0.60)、Zn(0.93)的转运系数分别大于1和小于1。相关分析结果表明,类芦植被对煤矸石特征金属的富集量与金属的有效态含量、全量之间呈显著或极显著正相关。除类芦根系层Mn的生物有效性高于对照外,类芦植被的存在能够明显降低煤矸石中特征金属的生物有效性,并对煤矸石中Mn、Zn具有较大转运、富集能力,因此可选择类芦作为煤矸石堆场污染物释放的原位生态控制和生态修复的先锋植物或优势植物。     

Plant origin of Okinawan propolis: honeybee behavior observation and phytochemical analysis

Propolis is a natural resinous product collected by honeybees from certain plants. It has gained popularity as a food and alternative medicine. Poplar and Baccharis are well known as the source plants of European and Brazilian propolis, respectively. However, the propolis from Okinawa, Japan, contains some prenylflavonoids not seen in other regions such as Europe and Brazil, suggesting that the plant origin of Okinawan propolis is a particular plant that grows in Okinawa. To identify the plant origin of Okinawan propolis, we observed the behavior of honeybees as they collected material from plants and caulked it inside the hive. Honeybees scraped resinous material from the surface of plant fruits of Macaranga tanarius and brought it back to their hive to use it as propolis. We collected samples of the plant and propolis, and compared their constituents by high-performance liquid chromatography with a photo-diode array detector. We also compared their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging activity. The chemical constituents and biological activity of the ethanol extracts of the plant did not differ from those of propolis. This indicates directly that the plant origin of Okinawan propolis is M. tanarius. S. K. and J. N. contributed equally to this work.     

砷污染生境下挺水植物香蒲对砷的积累与迁移特性

为探究典型湿地挺水植物香蒲（Typha angustifolia L.）不同生长阶段对As（砷）污染生境中As累积与迁移的影响,采用室内模拟方式,通过外源添加Na₂HAsO₄·7H₂O设置不同的As污染生境,w[As（V）]分别为0、50、100、150、200、400 mg/kg,探析As胁迫下不同物候期（幼苗期、花果期、枯黄期）香蒲的生长发育、As累积特征及对土壤中As的提取迁移效果.结果表明:①As对挺水植物香蒲的生长产生低促高抑的作用,在w[As（Ⅴ）]为100~150 mg/kg处理下香蒲的生长状态显著优于其他处理;在w[As（Ⅴ）]为400 mg/kg污染生境下,香蒲的生长存在受害症状,但仍可完成整个生命期.不同生长阶段香蒲对As的耐受性特征存在差异,随着生育期的延长,植株对As污染反应的敏感性下降,表现出较强的耐受性,其中花果期最为突出,在w[As（Ⅴ）]为100 mg/kg时耐性指数最大,比0 mg/kg处理增加了54.0%.②香蒲不同部位对As的积累特征均反映出剂量依赖效应,在幼苗期、花果期和枯黄期香蒲地上部w（As）均低于地下部,转运系数均小于1;但不同生长阶段植株富集转运水平差别较大,以花果期为最高,幼苗期次之,伴随"稀释"效应的产生,枯黄期最低.③在As污染生境下,香蒲对土壤中As的去除作用大于固定作用,其迁移效果表现为花果期>枯黄期>幼苗期,在花果期进行刈割可使其发挥最佳修复效果.研究显示,挺水植物香蒲对As具有较强的耐性,并且对As的积累与迁移在不同物候期存在差异,因此,其可作为修复As污染河湖湿地土壤的推荐性植物加以深入研究与利用.      

黄土高原植被演替不同阶段植物系数的变化与适应性评价

用4年长期定位试验资料,利用植物系数、蒸散量、土壤含水量和土壤水分对植物的有效性等指标,研究了黄土高原植被群落不同演替阶段(草本群落→灌木群落→早期森林群落→顶级群落)的耗水特性与生态适应性。结果表明:不同演替阶段,群落实际蒸散量主要受降水控制,群落间差异不显著(P＞0.05);土壤含水量是早期森林群落明显高于其它群落,草本群落明显高于灌木群落(P＜0.05);植物系数是灌木群落＞草本群落＞乔木群落,而顶级群落大于早期森林群落;土壤水分对植物的有效性是早期森林和顶级群落明显高于草本和灌木群落(P＜0.05)。因此,进行植被建设不但要考虑植物系数还要考虑土壤水分对不同植物的有效性。     

Remediation of nutrient-rich waters using the terrestrial plant, Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.

Effective control of eutrophication is generally established through the reduction of nutrient loading into waterways and water bodies. An economically viable and ecologically sustainable approach to nutrient pollution control could involve the integration of retention ponds, wetlands and greenways into water management systems. Plants not only play an invaluable role in the assimilation and removal of nutrients, but they also support fauna richness and can be aesthetically pleasing. Pandanus amaryllifolius, a tropical terrestrial plant, was found to establish well in hydrophytic conditions and was highly effective in remediating high nutrient levels in an aquatic environment showing 100% removal of NO~-N up to 200 mg/L in 14 days. Phosphate uptake by the plant was less efficient with 64% of the PO4-P removed at the maximum concentration of 100 mg/L at the end of 6 weeks. With its high NO~-N and PO43--P removal efficiency, P. amaryllifolius depleted the nutrient-rich media and markedly contained the natural colonization of algae. The impediment of algal growth led to improvements in the water quality with significant decreases in turbidity, pH and electrical conductivity. In addition, the plants did not show stress symptoms when grown in high nutrient levels as shown by the changes in their biomass, total soluble proteins and chlorophyll accumulation as well as photochemical efficiency. Thus, P. amaryUifolius is a potential candidate for the mitigation of nutrient pollution in phytoremediation systems in the tropics as the plant requires low maintenance, is tolerant to the natural variability of weather conditions and fluctuating hydro-periods, and exhibit good nutrient removal capabilities.