Identification and ecological assessment of plant species with bioaccumulation and phytoremediation properties in recreation areas of Aliağa (İzmir) industrial city

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate plant species in urban recreation areas under pressure from intensive industrial activities in the Aliağa district of İzmir in terms of their biocumulator and phytoremediation potential. The study aims to contribute to plant design decisions in industry-focused cities being made not only for aesthetic reasons but also in line with ecological functions. Method: Within the scope of the study, eight recreational areas located near industrial facilities, port activities, and transportation networks were examined on-site, and the existing plant species in these areas were identified. The identified species were analyzed in terms of their life forms, area-based distribution, proportion within the total number of species, and the plant organs (leaves, roots, branches) in which they accumulate heavy metals, and were classified according to their phytoremediation capacity. Findings: The data obtained showed that the proportion of effective species in biocumulation and phytoremediation within the total number of species ranged from 3.23% to 39.29% depending on the area. In contrast, it was determined that the representation (prevalence) rates of these species within the population ranged from 21.67% to 81.87%, which were higher levels. Furthermore, it was determined that heavy metal accumulation most frequently occurred in leaf tissue (20 species), followed by root (7 species) and branch (6 species) organs. Conclusion: Research findings reveal that high species diversity in recreational areas alone does not reflect environmental improvement capacity. Environmental improvement potential is largely related to the representation level (density) of species with phytoremediation capacity within the area. In this context, promoting species with high pollutant retention capacity in plant designs for cities under industrial pressure is critically important for ecological sustainability.

Keywords

• biocumulator plants
• phytoremediation
• heavy metal pollution
• urban recreation areas
• plant design
• Aliağa

Aliağa (İzmir) sanayi kenti rekreasyon alanlarındaki biyokümülatör ve fitoremediasyon özelliklere sahip bitki türlerinin tespiti ve ekolojik değerlendirmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, İzmir’in Aliağa ilçesinde yoğun sanayi faaliyetlerinin baskısı altında bulunan kentsel rekreasyon alanlarındaki bitki türlerini, biyokümülatör ve fitoremediasyon potansiyelleri açısından değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma, sanayi odaklı kentlerde bitkisel tasarım kararlarının sadece estetik değil, ekolojik işlevler doğrultusunda alınmasına katkı sunmayı hedeflemektedir. Metod: Çalışma kapsamında; sanayi tesisleri, liman faaliyetleri ve ulaşım ağlarına yakın konumda bulunan sekiz rekreasyon alanı yerinde incelenmiş ve bu alanlardaki mevcut bitki türleri tespit edilmiştir. Belirlenen türler; yaşam formları, alan bazlı dağılımları, toplam tür sayısı içerisindeki oranları ve ağır metal birikimi gerçekleştirdikleri bitki organları (yaprak, kök, dal) bakımından analiz edilerek fitoremediasyon kapasiteleri yönünden sınıflandırılmıştır. Bulgular: Elde edilen veriler, biyokümülatör ve fitoremediasyon etkili türlerin toplam tür sayısı içerisindeki oranının alanlara göre %3.23 ile %39.29 arasında kaldığını göstermiştir. Buna karşın, bu türlerin popülasyon içerisindeki temsil (yaygınlık) oranlarının %21.67 ile %81.87 gibi daha yüksek seviyelerde seyrettiği saptanmıştır. Ayrıca, ağır metal birikiminin en sık yaprak dokusunda (20 tür) gerçekleştiği, bunu sırasıyla kök (7 tür) ve dal (6 tür) organlarının izlediği belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Araştırma bulguları, rekreasyon alanlarındaki yüksek tür çeşitliliğinin tek başına çevresel iyileştirme kapasitesini yansıtmadığını ortaya koymaktadır. Çevresel iyileştirme potansiyeli, büyük ölçüde fitoremediasyon kapasitesine sahip türlerin alan içerisindeki temsil düzeyi (yoğunluğu) ile ilişkilidir. Bu bağlamda, sanayi baskısı altındaki kentlerde yapılacak bitkisel tasarımlarda, kirletici tutma kapasitesi yüksek olan türlerin baskın hale getirilmesi ekolojik sürdürülebilirlik açısından kritik önem taşımaktadır.

Keywords

• biyokümülatör bitkiler
• fitoremediasyon
• ağır metal kirliliği
• kentsel rekreasyon alanları
• bitkisel tasarım
• Aliağa

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