Freshwater Ulva (chlorophyta) as a bioaccumulator of heavy metals pollution in Nielba river (Wielkopolska region)

Abstract

Human activities still increase and causes negative impact to environment and consequently lead to ecological degradation. Water pollution, whose source are pesticides and chemical fertilizers from catchment areas, in result enrich the aquatic environment in heavy metals. These water contamination is accumulated in tissues of living organisms. A high degree of accumulation of dissolved metals is noticeable in macroalgae. To the one of the most tolerant group to high levels of water contaminations belong both marine and freshwater green algae from Ulva genera. The main aim of these study was to show contamination levels of heavy metals (Cd, Ni and Pb) in the freshwater Ulva growing in polluted water in Nielba River.