ABSTRACT The ability to maintain high competitiveness under a wide range of conditions is common among successful invasive species. The performance of rhizomatous macrophytes in different habitats is closely related to morphological and physiological adaptations in the rhizome system. We investigated the effects of soil moisture conditions on the microstructure of rhizomes of Hedychium coronarium (Zingiberaceae), an aggressive invader of Neotropical riparian sites. We collected rhizome fragments of H. coronarium and soil samples in wet and dry regions of riparian areas dominated by this species in southeastern Brazil. We measured soil moisture content gravimetrically and rhizome fragments were fixed, sectioned, and stained for histological analysis. Only rhizomes from wet regions exhibited aerenchyma, whereas amyloplasts were much more abundant and larger in rhizomes from dry regions than in rhizomes from wet regions. Even though low starch content in wet soils indicates the occurrence of anaerobic metabolism, the presence of aerenchyma may contribute to the typically high performance of H. coronarium in waterlogged soils. Although further studies are needed to assess how responses at the rhizome level affect the competitive ability of H. coronarium, our findings show that they may play a role in the dominance of this species in Neotropical riparian sites.

RESUMO O presente trabalho avaliou a contaminação por Escherichia coli em viveiro de criação de pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) e sua remoção do efluente utilizando um sistema do tipo constructed wetland, contendo macrófitas aquáticas de três tipos ecológicos diferentes (Eichhornia crassipes, Ceratophyllum demersum e Typha domingensis). Durante três meses foram realizadas análises do número mais provável (NMP) de Escherichia coli na água de abastecimento do viveiro, no seu efluente e em cada etapa do tratamento (sedimentação e emprego de cada espécie de macrófita). Concluiu-se que a contaminação por E. coli na água de abastecimento e no viveiro pode alcançar o ambiente por meio do efluente. O sistema de tratamento proposto foi eficiente na remoção de E. coli da água, sendo que, após estabilização do sistema, ocorreu remoção média de 95% da contaminação. A etapa contendo E. crassipes apresentou maior remoção média, porém mostrou diminuição da eficiência a partir de 60 dias após implementação do sistema. A remoção média das etapas contendo C. demersum e T. domingensis foi prejudicada devido à presença de E. coli no solo usado como substrato durante as primeiras semanas de experimento. Contudo, com a diminuição do efeito da contaminação presente no substrato, essas duas etapas foram fundamentais para manutenção da qualidade do efluente tratado, demonstrando que o consórcio de espécies de tipos ecológicos diferentes foi vantajoso, uma vez que a qualidade da água do efluente foi mantida mesmo quando algumas etapas do tratamento diminuíram sua eficiência.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the water contamination by Escherichia coli in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) breeding ponds and its removal by a constructed wetland system containing macrophytes of three different ecological types (Eichhornia crassipes, Ceratophyllum demersum, and Typha domingensis). The most probable number of E. coli in the water was quantified for supply site, effluent and at each stage of treatment (sedimentation and use of each type of aquatic macrophyte). We conclude that E. coli contamination in water supply and in fishpond can reach the environment through the effluent. The proposed treatment system was efficient in removing E. coli from the water, and when the system was stabilized the average removal efficiency of E. coli was 95%. The tank containing E. crassipes showed the highest removal average, even though it exhibited an efficiency reduction after 60 days of experiment. The average removal of the tanks containing C. demersum and T. domingensis was hampered due to the presence of E. coli in soil used as substrate. However, after the decrease of substrate contamination effect, these two plants were essential for the maintenance of water quality of the treated effluent, indicating the benefits of aquatic macrophytes diversity in treatment systems. The effluent quality was maintained even when some system steps presented a decrease of removal efficiency.