A Comparison of Two New York Native Hydrophytes for Artificial Floating Island Application.

Authors: Tyler Jaffee, Andrew Gascho-Landis

SUNY Campus: SUNY Cobleskill

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: Old Union Hall

Presentation #: 12

Timeslot: Session C 1:45-2:45 PM

Abstract: Eutrophication, caused by excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus entering water bodies, leads to prolific algae growth, oxygen depletion, and the promotion of cyanotoxins. This subsequently cascades through the aquatic food web and can ultimately degrade the habitability. Phytoremediation using native wetland hydrophytes is a growing area of interest due to its cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability. This study investigated the survival rates and growth metrics of Typha latifolia and Juncus effusus on Artificial Floating Islands (AFIs) for phytoremediation applications. Our experiment was conducted across three sites with varying nutrient levels, using nine AFIs (n = 3/pond) and 36 individual plants (n = 4/AFI). The study measured and compared percent stem and root elongation and estimated plant biomass accumulation metrics. Juncus effusus exhibited a higher survival compared to T. latifolia and demonstrated greater shoot elongation and total biomass accumulation. Additionally, J. effusus showed a significantly higher mean mass increase, further emphasizing its superior nutrient utilization and growth performance. The results indicate that J. effusus is more efficient in nutrient sequestration, making it a robust candidate for phytoremediation efforts. Our results also suggest that J. effusus is particularly effective in nutrient-rich conditions, while T. latifolia may be better suited to lower nutrient environments. The study highlights the importance of selecting species based on their nutrient uptake capabilities to improve water quality in eutrophic environments.