The river Timok with its watershed area is one of very imperilled running water on the territory of Serbia (Yugoslavia). By several years investigations of colonies bottoms (phytobenthos, microzoobenthos and macrozoobenthos) and plankton we have found the following: great diversity and specific phytobenthos and bottom fauna (frequency of certain taxa is considerably larger in relation to the other areas, and new taxa have been recorded). Stated specific structure of phytobenthos and bottom fauna have considerably reflected to right estimation of water quality of tested area.

During one-year examination of the Vlasina river and its main tributaries, the Luznica and Gradska rivers, Serbia (Yugoslavia), in May 1996, the samples were taken for biological and chemical analysis of the watercourse in the spring aspect. Sampling was performed on the five localities of the Vlasina river, and two tribute localities near the mouth thus including all critical points where the changes of physico-chemical water parameters and qualitative/quantitative biocenoses compositions due to the increasing anthropogenic influence could occur. Data on phytoplankton, zooplankton, periphyton and benthos were analysed together with the physico-chemical water parameters in order to determine communities composition and structure and bioindicator species. Based on these results the status of aquatic environment i.e. water quality, was evaluated.