Atributos funcionais de Eichhornia azurea (Sw.) Kunth em um gradiente ambiental no baixo curso do rio Jari, Amapá.

Abstract

Eichhornia azurea is an aquatic macrophyte present in the lower Jari River, which is impacted by urbanization and pollution. Morphological characteristics of macrophytes can vary in response to environmental factors, what indicates trade-offs in the allocation of resources for different traits. This study analyzed the leaf traits of the aquatic plant Eichhornia azurea in relation to the physical-chemical conditions of the water in the Jari River. For this, leaves were collected from individuals of the species for measurement of four functional traits and water parameters were estimated at eight points along the river, followed by data analysis. The results indicated differences in the functional strategies of the species along the Jari River, with a trade-off between growth and resource conservation: individuals with greater leaf area and leaf productivity were closer to the urban area, which is more polluted, and in areas with greater turbidity and dissolved oxygen, while those with greater leaf mass and thickness were found in areas further away from the city, where conductivity was slightly higher. It was possible to conclude that the leaf traits of E. azurea are influenced by water conditions, being an important indicator of its presence in the Jari River.