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.

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.

Mathematical modles and adequate investigation works enables successful water quality modeling. These models includes all relevant abiotic components (concentration of dissolved oxygen, temperature regimes and temperature stratification, concentration of organic and inorganic components of physical-chemical water conditions), while the biotic components are present only with phyto- and zooplankton. In new water reservoir, ichthyofauna mostly undergo mancontrolled successions, starting with planned stocking a water reservoir with fish. The paper presents analytical approach for mathematical modeling of ichthyofauna and application of Lotka - Volterr's equations.

In this paper the short review of the results of calculation of the coincidence between the water level and quality parameters at the gauging station Cuprija-rail bridge (Serbia, Yugoslavia) is presented. The basic principles of the applied method and criteria for the estimation of the statistic significance of coincidence indicators are given. At the end of the analyses and comments of the obtained results, as well as the possibility for application of this methodology are given. The paper gives numerical quantities of the estimated indicators of statistical significance of the coincidence of water level and quality parameters of groundwater. Also, the graphical illustration, which shows the common exceeding probabilities of the water level and quality parameters, is presented.

Using the then years data series of organic load (COD, BOD), ammonia and organic nitrogen, total phosphorus, detergents and oxygen dissolved, a heavy pollution of Bega Canal at the Romanian - Yugoslav Border ("Srpski Itebej" Control Station) is illustrated. High load of organic matters and nutrients as well as extremely low oxygen dissolved content created anaerobic conditions in aquatic environment, are the main characteristics of Bega Canal state at the analyzed location. As the Bega Canal (left tributary of Tisza river) is an international river, a transboundary issue of pollution is considered in this paper.

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.

The Mostonga, once the tributary of the Danube river, now a water-stream with a conducted regime it represents an important water-streams in West Backa (Serbia, Yugoslavia). The most wide-spread hydrophytes (i.e. plant species with the biggest abundance, covering values and occurrence degree) are: Wolffia arrhiza, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Spirodela polyrrhiza, Ceratophyllum demersum, Elodea canadensis, Vallisneria spiralis, Stratiotes aloides, Nuphar lutea, Bolboschoenus maritimus, Typha angustifolia, Typha latifolia and Phragmites communis. Based on the analysis of bioindicating values of mentioned hydrophytes of the Mostonga it can be concluded that the present plant species are significant indicators of eutrophication (considerable organic pollution) as well as the increased contents of nitrogen and nitrogen compounds (nutrients), presence of salt in the soil and weakly aerated and mud base.

The river Gvozdac (Serbia, Yugoslavia) is a small hill water current. It is situated on the mountain Goc and it belongs to the river basin of the river Ibar. During 1965, water micro-reservoir "Gvozdac" on the river Gvozdac was built for the hydroenergetic purposes, with the capacity of about 30,000 cubic meter and the maximum depth, in the present situation of about 2.5 m. Algological and saprobiological enquires have been performed on the water micro-reservoir, on the very river Gvozdac, on the river Ribnica and on some smaller stagnant waters on the given area, in the period between 1988-1994. The analysis have been shown that under the influence of antropogenic factors changes became apparent in the confluence and structure of algae flora as well as a degradation of water quality. The example of water micro-reservoir on the river Gvozdac indicates the destructive processes which are being developed in water micro-reservoirs and which should be stopped, as the significance of the small stagnant waters are not only in keeping and improvement of qualities of greater aquatorials and water tributaries of the river basins but also in the storing of biodiversity of aquatic assotiations in river basins (as well as in algae flora as one of the components).

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.