Due to its ability to accumulate metals, availability throughout the year and
its large biomass, Phragmites australis (common reed) is suitable for
biomonitoring studies for the evaluation of load level of water ecosystem
with trace metals. The heavy metals concentration in P.australis tissue can
be several ten to several thousand times higher than those in the surrounding
water. In this study we examined the content of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu,
Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Sr and V) in sediment, water and different organs of
Phragmites australis collected from Lake Skadar, Montenegro, during different
seasons of the year 2011. The highest concentrations of Sr were found in the
leaves, while the other studied metals showed their highest concentrations in
the roots. Thus, P. australis is considered a root bioaccumulation species.
For most metals the concentration in roots and stems increases over time
until the end of the growing season, and then decreases, while the
concentration in leaves increases even after the growing season of the plant.
If P. australis is used for phytoremediation purposes, then it should be
harvested after the growing season because then the concentration of metals
in the aboveground parts is maximal.
Seasonal changes in metal accumulation and distribution in the organs of Phragmites australis (common reed) from Lake Skadar, Montenegro
