Impacts of Lake-Derived Heavy Metal and Salinity Pollution on Soil Properties, Vegetation Structure, and Mycorrhizal Diversity in the Oum Ghellaz Wetland (Algeria)

Abstract

The present study investigates the effects of water contamination on wetland soil, flora, and fungal symbiosis in Dayet Oum Ghellaz, northwestern Algeria, focusing on the impact of high salinity and heavy metals. Water samples, rhizospheric soil, and roots from 14 plant species were collected and analyzed in order to assess water and soil quality, plant biodiversity, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) diversity, and the presence of metallic trace elements (MTEs). The findings revealed a high perturbation index (PeI) of the wetland flora (64%), as well as significant water and soil metallic pollution indices exceeding 2.5 and 5, respectively, indicating environmental contamination, particularly with cadmium, nickel, zinc, and lead, and elevated levels of sulphate, inorganic nitrogen, and oxygen demand (DBO5 and DCO). The majority of plant species exhibited high levels of mycorrhization (F>50%), 50% of the plants exhibited dark septate endophytes (DSE), and two species were found to have ectomycorrhizae. A total of 18 AMF morphospecies were identified, predominantly belonging to the families Glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae. These results emphasize the detrimental effects of heavy metal pollution on wetland ecosystems, highlighting the necessity for further research and management strategies to mitigate contamination impacts on plant-fungal interactions and overall biodiversity.