Suitability of Totora (Schoenoplectus californicus (C.A. Mey.) Soják) for Its Use in Constructed Wetlands in Areas Polluted with Heavy Metals

摘要: Schoenoplectus californicus subsp. tatora (totora) is an endemic plant from wetlands in South America’s Altiplano region. In the endorheic Titicaca-Desaguadero-Poopo-Salar de Coipasa system (TDPS), totora can be found along rivers, lakes, and shallow ponds. Lake Uru-Uru a minor lake placed upstream of Poopo, it gets water inflows Desaguadero River, city Oruro several mining metallurgic complexes. Polluted waters these origins, together with natural high salinity presence As Pb, make ideal location to search for species suitable used constructed restored under pollution stress, particularly systems pH salty waters. To test if could meet such requirements, healthy plants were collected at two sites different exposure polluted inflows. Chemical composition organs (leaves, rhizomes roots) compared. Results indicated totora’s capacity withstand concentrations cocktail multiple pollutants heavy metals. Particularly, this research showed as multi-hyperaccumulator (concentrations shoots higher than 1000 mg kg−1) As, Fe Ni. These results, combined intrinsic rates biomass production, slow decomposition its value raw material local craftwork industrial uses, support recommendation use or wetlands, metals, salinity.