The Paraná River basin is one of the most important in South America and is affected by human activities that take place on its margins. In particular, the De la Cruz stream flows through an industrial pole and the Arrecifes River goes mainly through agricultural fields. The aim of this study was to evaluate the water quality of the De la Cruz stream (S1) and the Arrecifes River (S2) by means of physicochemical parameters, including metals and pesticides concentrations. Since amphibians are good indicators of environmental quality, bioassays with Rhinella arenarum were carried on. For lethal and sublethal parameters, embryos and larvae were exposed to a dilution gradient of water samples and AMPHITOX Solution (AS) as negative control for 504 h. For the determination of oxidative stress biomarkers (Catalase -CAT-, Glutathione S-Transferase -GST-, Reduced Glutathione -GSH-, and lipid peroxidation -TBARS-), embryos and larvae were exposed to undiluted water samples and AS. For the determination of micronuclei, larvae at hind limb bud stage (S.28) were exposed to undiluted water samples, simultaneously with negative and positive controls (AS and cyclophosphamide 40 mg/L, respectively). Dissolved oxygen was low in both sites and the copper levels exceeded the Argentine limit for the protection of aquatic life. In embryos exposure, water sample from S1 caused lethal effects (504h-LC50 = 49 (28–71.6)%), increased TBARS levels, and GST and CAT activities. In larvae exposure, water sample from this site decreased CAT activity, while the water sample from S2 caused important lethal effects (504h-LC50 = 98.72 (60.60–302.52)%), low GSH levels and increased GST activity. Water samples from both sites induced higher micronuclei frequency than the negative control. This study alerts about the degradation of water quality of the studied sites including lethal and sublethal effects in R. arenarum that can jeopardize the native populations of this species. | Fil: Peluso, Julieta. Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM). Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. | Fil: Aronzon, Carolina Mariel. Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM). Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina. | Fil: Ríos de Molina, María del Carmen. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. | Fil: Rojas, Dante Emanuel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Instituto de Química Biológica; Argentina. | Fil: Cristos, Diego Sebastian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Instituto de Química Biológica; Argentina. | Fil: Pérez Coll, Cristina Silvia. Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM). Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Argentina.

In 1996 (March and June) the mineral water "Rudovci" was sampled in its spring in the village Rudovci, Serbia (Yugoslavia). The physical-chemical analyses have shown that the temperature of the water was 180 deg C with sodium-carbonate content. It has been considered that the quality of water was variable in a short period from 3 months. Comparing the analyses of the mineral water from 1996, we can consider some remarkably distinctions in some chemical elements. The chemical analyses made in 1996, have shown changes in following contents: magnesium (47.6 and 64.5 mg/l); sodium (1313 and 1355 mg/l); iron (2.35 and 3.76 mg/l); boron (5.2 and 4.8 mg/l); arsenic (0.08 and 0.06 mg/l). In 1974, the chlorine content was 28.4 mg/l, but about 218 mg/l in 1996. The nitrate content varied from high (19.2 mg/l) in 1974 to low (about 0.75 mg/l) in 1996.

Testing performed by five glass cups has been a try to show form and extent of water reservoir soil base influence on its water quality. At the some time a possibility of alleviation of eutrophication by means of certain safety precautions have been examined. During the test performed on a model of parameters (water temperature, air temperature, O2, chlorophyll a, total nitrogen, etc) have been monitored. The results of actions reffer to a fact a soil base influences deterioration of water quality, especially immediately after water reservoir filling, but the mentioned negative influence of the soil base could be decreased applying certain safety precautions.

The protected natural goods of the swamp Zasavica is situated in the north part of Macva (Serbia, Yugoslavia). It is parallel to the flow of the Sava river, which leads to the fact that it used to be the riverbed of the Sava and also of the Drina river. It is interesting for its variety of the plant and animal species. The investigations have been done during autumn period 1997, when the investigated groups were the most heterogeneous. It included algae, Rotatoria,Cladocera, Copepoda and Hydracarina. Among algae, Bacillariophyta were dominant. Among all the investigated groups Rotatoria were the most heterogenous, with great number of the species that are rarely present. Also, some Cladocera species were rare. The estimation of the water quality is given according to the bioindicator species.

Various physical, chemical and biological methods are used in complex investigations which are aimed at determining the quality of water. One of the oldest but also most widely accepted biological mathods is determination of saprobity on the basis of bioindicators. In application of these methods the existing lists of the indicators are most frequently used (Sladacek 1973, SEV 1977). In these lists only nine types of red algae (Rhodophyta) are specified as indicators of water quality. One of the main trends in development of algaeology in Serbia (Yugoslavia) is investigation of autoecological properties of algae and making a list of water quality indicator algae suited to the specific ecological conditions in water ecosystems of Serbia (Yugoslavia). The objective of this paper is to present information about apperance of red algae in the rivers of Serbia (Yugoslavia) and influence of physico-chemical factors upon their development, which represents a contribution to making of the above mentioned list of the water quality indicator algae.

The investigations of dynamics and composition of plankton, bottom fauna and fish community have been done at three localities (1-inflow, 2-the middle, 3-dam) at the Barje water reservoir (Serbia, Yugoslavia) during 1997. During winter period diatomea Asterionella formosa was dominant at all the localities. At the same time among zooplankton species Rotatoria group was dominant, with the emphasis of Polyalthra dolicoptera at the locality 2, while Keratella cochlearis was dominant at the localities 1 and 3. The present species are oligo- and betamezosaprobionts. Among the investigated bottom fauna species Oligochaeta and Chironomidae were present. The number of oligochaeta was between 1665-7878 ind./square m. By qualitative analyses the domination of Tubificidae family was present. It is known that the presence of this group of organisms and it's high number indicate the organic pollution of ecosystem. 30 individuals of the bighead, (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) with the average weight of 5.6 kg was captured by net.

In this paper given are basic characteristics and projected functions of the DTD (Danube-Tisza-Danube) Hydrosystem (Yugoslavia), then types, origin and some characteristics of muds - sediments in the hydrosystem channels. It is estimated that in hydrosystem channels gets in averagely about 1.28x10**6 tons of deposits annually, and of that amount in channels are settled about 0.64 x 10**6 cubic meter annually. In 1980-1996 period, it is mudded from channels of the main channel network averagely about 0.19 x 10**6 cubic meter/year, and in 1991-1996 period, usually only about 0.056 x 10**6 cubic meter/year, i.e. about 10 of average amounts which are deposited during the year. Also explained are numerous undesirable influences of muds - sediments on water quality in channels, as well as functions of the DTD (Danube-Tisza-Danube) Hydrosystem in general. At the end, measures for gradually improving conditions that are influenced by muds - sediments are, proposed.

Quality, high and stable yield in plant production often depends on irrigation. This paper deals with analysis of water usability for irrigation on some irrigation systems in Vojvodina (Serbia, Yugoslavia) during 1997. Included irrigation systems are characteristic taking into consideration soil type, way of irrigation, cropped area and production level (intensity), in fact - water requirements. This irrigations, which are organized for three years period, will provide the base for recommendation of chemical and biological dimension, water and soil sampling points and frequency. The main reason for mentioned investigation is poor legislation in this field in the Republic of Serbia and FR Yugoslavia.

This paper analyzes the results on water quality in the Medjuvrsje water reservoir (Serbia, Yugoslavia) in the period 1994-1997. The water reservoir was erected for the needs of electric engineering in 1953 as far as 182 km along the Zapadna Morava river stream issuing from the Ovcarsko-Kablarska crag. All the tributaries of the Zapadna Morava flow in torrents, thereby depositing drift onto reservoir and inducing eutrophication process. Water regime in the water reservoir is conditioned by power plant operation, with daily oscillations about 30 cm causing turbulence in aquatic biota, including fish as the most developed aquatic vertebrate by their evolution level and greatest in biomass. Hydrochemical and some hydrobiological parameters influencing productivity of the water reservoir, were assessed. From hydrochemical aspect, this water reservoir contained water, the quality of which was found to be within 2nd-3rd class. The water was, however, loaded with high concentration of NH3, Fe, BPK5 and suspended substances inducing its quality to be out of the class range.

During the period 1990-1997, the content of 11 trace metals (Fe, Cr, Co, Al, Mn, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Sr) was studied in muscle and other organs of fish from DTD (Danube-Tisza-Danube) channel system (Yugoslavia). According to obtained and analysed data, the trace metal bioaccumulation can possibly act as enviromental indicator in biomonitoring. DTD (Danube-Tisza-Danube) Channel System can, therefore, be classified as the 3rd class, concerning analysed trace metal content.