Due to their potential to absorb and accumulate toxic heavy metals, three species of submerged aquatic plants, namely Potamogeton pectinatus L., Ceratophyllum demerssum L, and Myriophyllum spicatum L., were collected from ten different locations at the southern part of Lake Manzala and checked for the presence of heavy metals contents (Zn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cd); the values of contents, should they exist, were expressed as mg/g dry weight of the analyzed plant. The studied metals were also detected in water samples. Potamogeton pectinatus and Myriophyllum spicatum are the most active in absorbing of Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni, and Cu, respectively. Ceratophyllum demerssum immensely absorbed Fe and Pb. The presented study reveals that the submerged plants critically absorb and displace heavy metals from marine environments and they probably reduced the effect of high concentrations of these metals on the lake ecosystem. The submerged plants could be used as bioindicators; bioaccumulating agents for heavy metals in polluted water. It can be used in the sustainable management of water streams.

Most of higher plants can dominated the metal enriched environments and some of them can accumulate very high concentrations of

In the current study the free floating macrophyte Pistia stratiotes L. belonging to family (Araceae) powder was used as bioadsorbent material for immobilization of Cadmium from contaminated water samples. Design experiment was employed to reduce the number of trials and examine the effect of different controlling parameters at the same time on cadmium adsorption process. From the results we observed that the size of powdered materials were ranged from 116.6 -187.5 nanometers. The maximum removal percent (92 %) was recorded at pH 8, 190 min. of contact time, 28.75 mg/l of Cadmium concentration and 3.875 g of adsorbent material. Key wards: Pistia stratiotes, Cadmium, bioadsorbent, pollution, Experimental design. Introduction Aquatic pollution caused by heavy metal represents an important environmental problem worldwide due to its toxic effects (Shreadah et al. 2006; Said et al. 2006; Khalil et al., 2013; Younis et al., 2014a.Nafea and Zyada. 2015, Nafea.2016, Nafea,2019a.Nafea.2019b). Heavy metals are widely used in industrial sectors such as mining, fertilizers, medicine and agriculture

Article history: Received sept. 10, 2020 Received in revised form oct. 12, 2020 Accepted oct. 24, 2020 Available online oct. 31, 2020 In this study, Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt was evaluated as an economic and accessible biosorbent capable of removing phenol ions from aqueous solutions. The effects of the functional parameters, e.g., pH value of solution, dose of biosorbent, and initial concentration of phenol and contact time, were assayed in batch mode in the experiment. The optimum adsorption that allows for the displacement of phenol from aqueous solutions via Sargassum muticum was at the amount of 250 mg dry powder of Sargassum muticum for 100 mg/L of phenol at pH value of 3 after 24 hours of adsorption. This laboratory treatment strategy for the polluted water could be applied in a wide-scale treatment strategy.

In this study, Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt was evaluated as an economic and accessible biosorbent capable of removing phenol ions from aqueous solutions.The effects of the functional parameters, e.g., pH value of solution, dose of biosorbent, and initial concentration of phenol and contact time, were assayed in batch mode in the experiment.The optimum adsorption that allows for the displacement of phenol from aqueous solutions via Sargassum muticum was at the amount of 250 mg dry powder of Sargassum muticum for 100 mg/L of phenol at pH value of 3 after 24 hours of adsorption.This laboratory treatment strategy for the polluted water could be applied in a wide-scale treatment strategy.

This study was conducted to evaluate the impacts of water characteristics changes on the growth and distribution of water plants present in lake Burullus protected area. Najas armata, Ceratophyllum demersum, Pistia stratiotes and Myriophyllum spicatum growth rate were declined and completely disappeared from the eastern part of the lake and became very rare across the lake as a results of clearing and shallwing process of this part of the lake which leads to increasing in water salinity, depth, dissolved oxygen and decreasing in biological oxygen demand with changeable pH values. Water depth, TDS, salinity, ammonium and phosphate were the key factors that control the growth and distribution of aquatic macrophytes in lake burrullus. Keywards : Lake Burullus, aquatic plants , water characteristics, salinty , water depth , nutreints INTRODUCTION Egypt has five lakes or lagoons in the northern coast. These lakes are: Bardawil, Manzala, Burullus, Edku, and Mariut, and considered the most important sites in the Egyptian Mediterranean coastal water. Lake Burullus is located between the two main Egyptian Delta Rosetta and Damietta branches and is a Ramsar site which declared as a protected area since 1998. Because of the presence of habitat variety of Lake Burullus, a variety of biodiversity inhabits the lake. In the recent years, the amounts of agricultural and sewage wastewater entering the lake through several drains at the southern part changed their physico-chemical and limnological features and decreasing the levels of salinity across the Lake, which caused shifting in their biodiversity. The Egyptian Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency updated the National Biodiversity, Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). One of the important goals of this strategy is to minimize the rate of lake degradation and improve the water quality. The major concern in Lake Burullus toward achieving the National Biodiversity Strategy is to decreasing the anthropogenic activities and land runoffs by restoring salinity level by clearing and shallower the eastern part of the lake to make water current and increasing salinity, the mechanical removal of reeds form 50 cm under water surface causing recycling of water across the lake, maintain the sea outlet (El-Boughaz) open and clear to ease seawater and fish enter the lake. Water quality and consequent Macrophytes growth are continuously affected by physical, chemical and biological variables including nutrient availability, water flow, turbulence, water salinity, temperature, depth, sediments characteristics and epiphytic growth (Duarte et Ass. Univ. Bull. Environ. Res. Vol. 22 No. 2 October 2019 44 al., 1994; Wetzel, 2001). The abundance and biomass production of several plant species in according to physico-chemical variation were observed by Lacoul&Freedman, (2006) and Rolon & Maltchik (2006). Such studies provide the opportunity for species richness assessment in relation to environment in particular the factors that determine aquatic plant diversity (Murphy et al., 2003). Biotic factor such as competition and herbivores can also be considered as one of significant factors that affect the abundance and distribution of macrophytes (Titus & Stephen, 1983; Rasch et al., 2004). On the other hand macrophytes communities have their impacts on the aquatic habitats by influences the ecosystem functions through modifying , flow pattern (Sand-Jensen & Pedersen, 1999), sediment process (Clarke & Wharton, 2001), oxygen dynamics (Uehlinger et al., 2000) and nutrients cycles (Wilcock et al., 2004). The extent to which macrophytes could affect the aquatic system is by their interaction in physical, chemical and biological process depending mainly on; biomass density, composition, and species morphology (SandJensen & Mebus, 1996). The understanding of the interaction between aquatic environment and macrophytes is essential if the macrophytes community includes a rare or highly valued (environmentally and/or economically) species, for example, Najas aramata, Pistia stratiotes and Lemna gibba as they are vital for fish feeding and water treatment, Younis & Nafea (2014), Potamogeton pectinatus is important tool for water purification from heavy metals (Nafea &Zyada, 2015). Najas armata can help to retain soil moisture for short periods before it rots down, so, ironically, it helps promoting the early growth of grass (Belal et al., 2009). Natural and anthropogenic impacts put macrophytes under pressure and reduce in many ways their growth and productivity in shallow water areas in Lake Burullus. The water plants of Lake Burullus have been investigated by Younis & Nafea (2012) and Shaltout & Khalil (2005) and Al-Sodany (1992). The number of the recorded aquatic plants in Lake Burullus, as estimated by Nafea (2005) was 26 species: 4 submerged species, 8 floating species, and 14 emerged species. The salinity and water depth of water of Lake Burullus appears to be the most important factor affecting the distribution and abundance of hydrophytes communities in the lake. Younis & Nafea (2012) stated that water plants in Lake Burullus can grouped into three categories, some are restricted to the more saline water e.g. Ruppia maritima, while others occur more abundantly in freshwater and slightly brackish water, e.g. Myriophylum spicatum, Pistia stratiotes and Najas armata and others have wide salinity tolerance e.g. Potamogeton pectinatus, Phragmites australis, and Typha domingenssis. High drainage water from agricultural and aquaculture projects at south of the lake caused reduction of many species to one or two populations with few individuals on the shores of Lake Burullus (Khedr & Lovett-Doust, 2000). Freshwater origin species Myriophylum spicatum was recorded in front of Brimbal Canal and around the outlets of southern drains where the water salinity was relatively low. (Younis &Nafea, 2012). This work aimed mainly to evaluate the water variables that positively and negatively impact the Ass. Univ. Bull. Environ. Res. Vol. 22 No. 2 October 2019 45 growth and distribution of water plants in Lake

This study evaluates the use of free floating aquatic macrophytes (Lemna gibba L., Lemnaceae. and Pistia stratiotes L., Araceae) for the treatment and purification of waste polluted water in a laboratory experiment. The results revealed that Lemna gibba L. has a higher removal efficiency reached to about 88 % for the tested heavy metals and phenol from the waste polluted water, while Pistia stratiotes L. has a removal efficiency reached to about 83% for heavy metals and phenol. They are considered good models in assessing Eco- toxicity and efficiency for toxins removal from polluted environment and wastewater purification and treatment.

THIS STUDY aims to investigate the nutritive values of some wildplants in the coastal Deltaic Mediterranean wetlands of Egypt forsustainable uses and management; these are: Arthrocnemummacrostachyum (Moric) Koch, Atriplex portulacoides L., Bassia indica(Weight) A. J. Scott, Chenopodium album L., Halocnemum strobilaceum(Pall.) M. Bieb (Chenopodiaceae) , Amaranthus hybridus L(Amaranthaceae), Portulaca oleracea L.(Portulacaceae), Bolboschoenusglaucus L.(Cyperaceae) , Sesbania sesban L. (Fabaceae ) and PlucheaDioscorides (L.) DC. (Asteraceae) as their over growth and dominationcause many serious environmental problems, So it is urgent to suggestthe possible economic uses of these plants as a tool in sustainablemanagement. The mean values of the physicochemical characteristics ofsoil samples collected underneath the studied species were carried out tobe considered during cultivation of these plants. The determination oflipid, crude protein, total phosphorus, total carbohydrates, crude fiber, ashcontent and dry weight, as well as Na+, K+ and Ca+ cations in the drymater showed noteable variation among the studied species. The highestmean carbohydrates content was recorded in P. oleracea and A. hybriduswith values of 211.3 and 291 mg/g dry wt. , respectively. The relativelyhigh contents of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in some selected plantspecies qualify them as suitable candidates to be used as animal feedstalk and natural organic fertilizers with safe manner. The high contentsof Na+, K+ and Ca+ ions in the studied plants make them also as a goodsource of mineral salts in food formulas, and as a tool for desalinization inthe salt affected lands in the coastal Egyptian wetland habitats.

THIS STUDY aims to investigate the nutritive values of some wildplants in the coastal Deltaic Mediterranean wetlands of Egypt forsustainable uses and management; these are: Arthrocnemummacrostachyum (Moric) Koch, Atriplex portulacoides L., Bassia indica(Weight) A. J. Scott, Chenopodium album L., Halocnemum strobilaceum(Pall.) M. Bieb (Chenopodiaceae) , Amaranthus hybridus L(Amaranthaceae), Portulaca oleracea L.(Portulacaceae), Bolboschoenusglaucus L.(Cyperaceae) , Sesbania sesban L. (Fabaceae ) and PlucheaDioscorides (L.) DC. (Asteraceae) as their over growth and dominationcause many serious environmental problems, So it is urgent to suggestthe possible economic uses of these plants as a tool in sustainablemanagement. The mean values of the physicochemical characteristics ofsoil samples collected underneath the studied species were carried out tobe considered during cultivation of these plants. The determination oflipid, crude protein, total phosphorus, total carbohydrates, crude fiber, ashcontent and dry weight, as well as Na+, K+ and Ca+ cations in the drymater showed noteable variation among the studied species. The highestmean carbohydrates content was recorded in P. oleracea and A. hybriduswith values of 211.3 and 291 mg/g dry wt. , respectively. The relativelyhigh contents of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in some selected plantspecies qualify them as suitable candidates to be used as animal feedstalk and natural organic fertilizers with safe manner. The high contentsof Na+, K+ and Ca+ ions in the studied plants make them also as a goodsource of mineral salts in food formulas, and as a tool for desalinization inthe salt affected lands in the coastal Egyptian wetland habitats.

Duckweed (Lemna gibba L.) has been evaluated as low-cost biosorbent for removal of phenol ions from aqueous solution. Effects of operational parameters such as pH of solution, biosorbent dosage, initial concentration of phenol and contact time were investigated under batch mode experiment. The obtained results showed that the optimum adsorption for the removal of phenol from aqueous solution using duckweed were 250 mg of Lemna gibba for 10 ml of phenol concentration at pH 6.0 after 18 min of adsorption.

The present study conducted to assess the relationship between vegetation and soil seed bank at protected versus unprotected sites at coastal habitats in Libya, where two sites (protected and non-protected) were selected and soil seeds estimated manually by sieving and flotation method. The results revealed that 190 species recorded in the protected site for both vegetation and soil seed bank, among them 87 perennials, 2 biennials and 101 annual and included 126 genera belonging to 34 families. While the non-protected site vegetation attained 104 species, among them 51 perennials, 2 biennials and 51 annuals and 82 species in soil seed bank, from which 12 species were found only as seeds and 77 species were found as seeds and as vegetation, but 22 species were found only as vegetative forms. The life form spectrum was dominated by therophytes which represented by 106 species, (55.78%) of the total number of recorded species, hemicryptophytes 32 species, (16.84%), cryptophytes 23 species, (12.1%), Chamaephytes 16 species, (8.4%) and phanerophytes 12 species, (6.3%). Soil seed bank increased with the increases of soil salinity, soil organic matter content, calcium carbonates and sandy textured soil. The higher similarity index between the vegetation and soil seed bank recorded in the protected site (100 %), while the lower one detected in non-protected site (75.26%). Vegetation protection may lead to formation of a huge storage of seeds in soil more than in the non-protected vegetation. Accordingly, soil seed banks can provide a clear picture about the present , as well as the past vegetation and could be play a vital role in conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species after the disturbance processes in the coastal habitats

Aquatic macrophytes and benthos are unchangeable biological filters and they carry out purification of the water bodies by accumulating dissolved metals and toxins in their tissues. In view of their potential to entrap several toxic heavy metals, 3 groups of benthos and 6 macrophytes (submerged species: Potamogeton pectinatus, Ceratophyllum demersum and Najas armata); (floating species: Lemna gibba and Eichhornia crassipes root and shoot) and (emergent species: Phragmites australis shoot) were collected from 15 different locations on Lake Burullus and analyzed for determination of 6 heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb and Cd) contenets. The study was aimed at understanding the importance of these benthos and macrophytes in accumulation of toxic metals and suggesting preservation and restoration of Lake Burullus ecosystem. The distribution of the investigated metals in water, sediments, benthos and aquatic plants of the lake showed that, the eastern and eastern southern parts of the lake have generally higher concentrations of heavy metals than the western and middle one. Potamogeton pectinatus showed high contents of Pb, Cd and Zn respectively. On the other hands Eichhornia crassipes showed high level of copper while in Ceratophyllum demersum high concentration of Iron was detected. The present study reveals that the aquatic macrophytes and benthos play a very significant role in removing of the different metals from the aquatic environments and they probably reduced the effect of high concentrations of these metals on the lake ecosystem. Bioaccumulation factor values showed that the trend of accumulation of most metals in the benthos was as follows: Mullusca > Arthropoda > Annelida > and in aquatic plants as: Lemna gibba> Potamogeton pectinatus > Ceratophyllum demersum > Eichhornia crassipes Root > Najas armata>phragmites australis shoot> Eichhornia crassipes shoot, which make them suitable candidates to be used in biomonitoring surveys as a good tools for heavy metal pollution markers, in the biological treatment of the polluted water and in sustainable development of Lake Burullus. Key words: Biofilter, bioaccumulation, sustainable developments, biological treatment, macro benthos, aquatic plants, sustainable management.

Aquatic Macrophytes are unchangeable biological filters and they carry out purification of the water bodies therefore, the determination of element compositions in aquatic Macrophytes is essential for understanding their nutritive importance. Macrophytes are known as good indicators of heavy metal contamination in aquatic ecosystems and they act as biological filters by accumulating heavy metals from the surrounding environments. Concentrations of heavy metals such as Fe, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured in macrophytes samples collected from different physiographic locations from lake Burullus and Manzala. The collected plants were Lemna gibba, Pistia stratiotes, Ceratophyllum demersum, Potamogeton pectinatus and myriophylum spicatum The results of the present study indicated that, values of some metals like iron, zinc and copper are higher in almost all the specimens, in addition to Lemna gibba and potamogeton pectinatus showed the higher capacity of heavy metal accumulation than the other aquatic plants, Accordingly they could be used as reliable way for biomonitoring of heavy metals and in sustainable development, management and pollution assessment in the northern deltaic lakes of Egypt.

The goals of the present study were to record and document the floristic composition of the plant cover at Surt region in Libya during spring 2010 to summer 2011 and to use the obtained data in the sustainable development of Surt region. The flora of coastal habitats at Surt, Libya (salt marshes, sand dunes and non cultivated sandy lands) comprises 231 species, related to 147 genera and belonging to 37 families. Among the recorded species 123 annuals, 105 perennials and 3 biennials, family Poaceae comprises 27 species (11.69%), both of Asteraceae and Fabaceae includes 26 species for each (11.26%) these three families were the main leading families representing collectively about 34.21% (79 species) of the total number of the recorded species in the study area. The coastal habitats in the Mediterranean coast of Surt are characterized by their specific floristic composition and dominant communities where the salt marsh habitat was represented by 66 species and dominated by: Suaeda pruinosa Lang cover percentage (90%), Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (Moric.) K. Koch (85%), Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) M. Bich. (85%), Tamarix nilotica (Ehrenb.) Bunge (85%), Zygophyllum album L. (75%). On the other hand the sand dune habitat was represented by 143 species and dominated by Echinops spinosus L. (80%), Moltkiopsis ciliata (Forssk) I. M. Johnest.(80%), Calotropis procerra W. T. Aiton (77%), Panctarium maritimum L.(75%), Silene succulenta Forssk (75%). Heliotrobium curassavicum L. (40%). The non cultivated sandy land was represented by 90 species and dominated by: Chenopodium murale L. (85%), Bassia indica L. (85%) Amaranthus graezicans L. (80%), Cynanchum acutum L. (75%). The most common life forms were the Therophytes which represented by 141 species (61%) of the total recorded species followed by Cryptophytes 32 species (13.9%). Hemicryptophytes and Chamaephytes were represented by 24 species (10.3%) and Phanerophytes 10 species (4.3%). This study is considered as the pioneer study at Surt area and may be fruitful in further studies and in sustainable development of Surt. Key words: Flora, salt marsh, sand dunes, soil, life forms, costal habitats, Surt, Libya.

Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan Department of Plant and Environmental Protection, University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan Department of Statistics, University of Sargodha, Pakistan Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Engineering and Technological Training, National Fertilizer Corporation, Multan, Pakistan

Lake Burullus is one of the vulnerable Egyptian coastal lakes suffering from high level of aquatic plant, over fishing, expansion in fish farming and agricultural drainage discharges and increasing of human activities. Eutrophication in water bodies of the lake is associated with growth of the different hydrophytes which have direct effects on Euro-Asian Palaearctic migrants passing Egypt. The water properties of Lake Burullus were evaluated based on one year monitoring seasonally during 2011 for 15 stations representing the eastern, middle and western sectors of the lake. Recent surveys showed that the contents of dissolved salts in the water of Lake Burullus have the following sequence: SiO > NO > PO >NO and high level of dissolved 2 3 42 salts was found in the middle basin compared with that reported for the eastern and western basins. Lake Burullus is characterized by having an extensive growth of hydrophytes, particularly along its southern shores beside the outlets of land drains where their growth is favored by the flowing fresh water. One hundred twenty seven bird species and subspecies were recorded in the present survey; there was a remarkable increase in species richness associated with a sharp decrease in the community density Lake Burullus is shallow slightly brackish water drainage water through 8 drains and one brackish water situated along the Mediterranean Sea coast. It is one of canal, while saline water enters the lake from the sea the Nile delta lakes located between the two main delta through El-Boughaz. Al Burullus Lake is situated along promontories; Rosetta and Damietta. It lies on the eastern the Mediterranean coast and occupies a more or less, a side of Rosetta branch of the River Nile, Egypt and central position between the two branches of the Nile. occupies a central position along the Mediterranean coast Recently, the ecosystem in the lake has been deteriorated of the Nile. It lies between Longitude 30° 30-and 31° 10-E due to the continuous water discharges into the lake from and latitude 31° 21-and 31° 35-N. It's a shallow brackish the drainage system (3) lake connected with the sea by a small outlet (Boughaz), Around the early 1900s, it had a surface area of about about 44 m width near El Burg village. The length of the 588 km ; it reduced to 574 km in 1956, 462 km in 1974 (4). lake is about 65 km. and its width varies between 6 and 16 Kassas et al. (5) emphasized that, land reclamation for km, with an average of about 11km. The depth of the lake agriculture and fish farms has reportedly affected of the ranges between 0.42 and 2.07 m (1).