Bioindication and phytostabilization of potentially toxic elements by Schoenoplectus californicus in a Ramsar urban wetland, Colombia.

This study evaluates Schoenoplectus californicus as a bioindicator for As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Hg in the Capellanía wetland. Triplicate samples were collected from sediment, roots, and stems at three wetland sites. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate differences in sediment concentrations across sites using ANOVA with normality assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Pearson correlation analyses assessed linear relationships between sediment and root concentrations. Bioconcentration (BCF) and translocation (TF) factors were calculated to determine PTEs mobility in the plant. S. californicus accumulates PTEs primarily in roots with significant concentrations of Cr, Ni, and Pb in this tissue. BCF values exceeding 1.00 at Site 3. However, the translocation factors for Cr, Ni, and Pb were below 1.00. No presence of As, Cd, and Hg was detected in plant tissues. S. californicus functions as an effective phytostabilizer of Cr, Ni, and Pb in contaminated wetland ecosystems by restricting element translocation to aerial tissues.