A study was carried out at the Nguru Lake, a Ramsar site located in northeastern Nigeria. The study focused on assessment of trace elements accumulation in certain aquatic macrophytes, in comparison with the water and sediment of the lake. Three native aquatic plants, Typha latifolia, Ceratophyllum demersum and Nymphaea lotus, along with water and sediment were analyzed for Zn, Cu and Fe accumulation. The highest concentration of metals was observed in C. demersum and the lowest concentration was measured in T.latifolia. The concentration of metals observed are in the following order Zn > Cu >Fe. It was observed also that the concentration of these heavy metals in the lake ecosystem is within the safe limits for human use in tropical water bodies. The results showed a significant difference in accumulation rate of these metals in different parts of the ecosystem. In addition, there is a positive correlation between different compartments of the ecosystem in their ability to accumulate heavy metals.

Keywords: Accumulation, Aquatic macrophytes, Trace elements, Ramsar site.