PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERIPHYTON IN FISHFARM EFFLUENT TREATMENT SYSTEMS

摘要

The use of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment is becoming more and more widespread in Hungary. In these wastewater treatment systems, periphytic communities have a significant role in the nutrient cycling and energy flow of the aquatic ecosystem, and contribute to an adequate water quality by increasing the treatment efficiency. The term periphyton refers to the complex community of bacteria, algae, fungi, invertebrates, inorganic matter and organic detritus covering the surface of the aquatic plant (Wetzel, 1975). A study of periphyton on dominant emergent plants and artificial substrates was performed in two constructed wetlands treating the effluent water of a farm producing African catfish.