Biodiversity water quality improvement

The diversity of natural habitat can clean the pollutants released into the environment, so that the loss of biodiversity caused by the extinction of species, could jeopardize the ability of the planet to clean up the mess humans "says Bradley Cardinale, study author and professor at the University of Michigan (USA).

Cardinale analyzed 150 streams varied models that simulated miniature natural streams. In each, grew from one to eight species of algae, diatoms and green-and measured the ability of every community of algae to absorb nitrate, a nitrogen compound that contaminates water nutrients. The results showed that the higher the species richness was in the stream, more nitrate is absorbed, eight algae removed nitrate at a rate 4.5 times higher than that achieved alone.

The breakdown of ecological functions (niches) of each species within a single environment makes streams rich in biodiversity to better filter pollutants. The experiments showed that each species of algae adapted to a particular area of ​​their habitat and turned it into their ecological niche.

The more algae were added, more habitat area was used, which contributed to the streams to become 'sponge' with greater capacity for absorption and storage of nitrate.

Nitrate is a compound found in many fertilizers and agricultural land, the particles spread into streams, lakes and coastal areas, so it becomes a major cause of degradation of water quality around the world .

References:
J. Bradley Cardinale. "Biodiversity Improves water quality-through niche partitioning." Nature , Vol 472, April 7, 2011. doi: 10.1038/nature09904

Source: SINC

Source: SINC