This work is based on biotests being experimented at sea organisms - fish Serranus scriba. We were studying the activity of the mentioned fish in sublethal concentrations of organochloric pesticide - lindane. Besides the classic biotests, we used some new methods for neurotoxic testing that include the influence of this pesticide on circadian activity of fish as well as the variations in obtaining the positive conditioned reflexive responses. The results of these experiments show that this kind of fish reacts at the subtile changes of toxic concentration with the change of quality and rhythm in its conditioned reflexive reactions, that appeared earlier than other global signs of intoxication.

The determination of main and some biogenic and trace elements in the sea water of the Boka Kotorska Bay (Adriatic sea, Montenegro, Yugoslavia) was carried out by the atomic apsorption and emission spectrometric method (FAAS) and by the hydride technique AAS (HGAAS).

Results on sea - water quality control and level of pollution in the coastal Southern Adriatic (Montenegro, Yugoslavia) were discussed from data collected in 1997. Investigations from Boka Kotorska Bay, coastal sea up to Bojana river mouth and in front of Bojana river mouth were presented separately. For above mentioned areas, basic hydrographic parameters, as well as the level of bacterial contamination were examined throughout the year (1996/1997 period). In Kotor Bay, which is the shallowest and exposed to the strongest land - based sources, as in the Tivat Bay, some changes influenced by anthropogenic eutrophication were already found.

In this work influence of different concentrations of linear active substance (LAS-DBS) on activity of Serranus scriba CUV have been studied. Desynchronization of circadian rhythms is in direct correlation with LAS growing concentrations. The high disproportion was found between maximum permitted concentrations (3 mg/l) and our results which show the changes in fish behaviour at 0.2 mg/l LAS.

During complex studies of phytoplankton, the role of particular phytoplankton groups was examined, as one of important indicators of eutrophic processes in the Bay of Boka Kotorska (Adriatic sea, Montenegro (Yugoslavia)). Throughout summer 1999, investigations have been performed at representative locations (Kotor, Tivat and Hercegnovi bays) at the depths of 0, 5, 10 and 20 m. Maximal values of microphytoplankton were found in Kotor Bay in July (2.1 x 10**6 cells/cubic dm). In Tivat Bay, maximal values of microphytoplankton were found in June, although they were ten times lower (2.4 x 10**5 cells/cubic dm). In the Bay of Hercegnovi, mean values were lower, while maximal quantity of microphytoplankton was found in August (2.6 x 10**3 cells/cubic dm). In the Boka Kotorska Bay, the maximal percentage of 95% of the group Bacillariophyceae was found in the most productive surface layers at the depths of 0 and 5 m. The impact of eutrophication was the most visible in the Kotor Bay. It decreased towards the open sea. Diatoms populations (Bacillariophyceae) were dominant in the Bay, while the participations of other groups is insignificant. Consequently, it means that Bacillariophyceae are the most adapted group to the eutrophic conditions of the Boka Kotorska Bay.

In this work, we were investigated level and source of trace elements in industrial and sea waters in Bokakotorska Bay (Adriatic sea, Montenegro, Yugoslavia). The ranges concentration in (microgram/cubic dm) in seawater are as follows: Hg (0.1-0.4); As (0.1-0.9); Pb (2.3-10.0); Zn (3.0-12.0); Cu (2.3-8.4); Cr (0.8-3.0); Cd (0.1-1.0); Ni (0.9-3.0); Mn (0.2-0.5). The average levels of trace elements in the samples collected from industrial effluents of factory ILK were 110 - 16500 times higher than concentrations of trace elements in other industrial effluents.

The experiment was performed on marine Teleost Serranus scriba with lower concentrations of lindane then MPC (due to our valid law). The aim of this study was to find the effects of lindane to fish activities connected with nutrition. This motive is among the strongest. It includes parameters as: number of fish movements in the presence of prey or without it and the number of onslaughts to the prey during one hour. The results have shown that the increasing of lindane concentration caused considerable decreasing and even complete cessation of activity. Interest for prey and decreasing activity of predators in the presence of prey (typical for Serranus - as a fish of prey and the hunter) endures till the moment of convulsion.

Studies of phytoplankton in the Montenegrin coastal sea (Adriatic Sea), Montenegro (Yugoslavia), have been done in August and September 1998. Simultaneously, investigations were carried out in the area of Boka Kotorska Bay (Kotor and Tivat Bays) and outside the Bay, i.e. in the zone exposed to the influence of the open sea (Petrovac and Budva). It was found that the density of microphytoplankton is higher during summer, than in the autumn. So in the summer-period, as a consequence of stronger eutrophication process, mean-value of microphytoplankton density was 10**5 cells/cubic dm, and in autumn 4 x 10**4 cells/cubic dm. On the contrary, mean-value of nanophytoplankton density was higher in the autumn (5.2 x 10**6 cells/cubic dm) than in summer (3.5 x 10**5 cells/cubic dm), being a consequence of a decreasing eutrophication during colder period of the year. Having in mind the direct influence of the open sea outside the Bay, it is intelligible that population density of both phytoplankton size-fractions is lower along the Montenegrin coast, than in the Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro, Yugoslavia).

Some new results of the monitoring and control of the sea-water quality along the Montenegrin coast of the Adriatic sea, Montenegro (Yugoslavia) are presented. The recent data from summer 1998 are compared with some previous results. So, increasing of temperature mean values and decreasing of salinity and sea-water density were found in comparison with the previous years in the whole investigated area. At the same time, the quality of the sea is growing worse, step by step. Faster changes were found in Boka Kotorska Bay, Montenegro (Yugoslavia) than outside of the bay, in the zone which is exposed to the stronger influence of the open sea. Finally, the most essential conclusion is that the solution of wastewater discharges becomes more and more important, especially in semienclosed Boka Kotorska Bay (Adriatic Sea, Montenegro, Yugoslavia).

The degree of aggregation and/or coalescence of Au-citrate nanoparticles (AuNPs, mean size 21.5 ± 2.9 nm), after delivery in simulated seawater, are shown to be concentration-dependent. At low concentrations no coalescence and only limited aggregation of primary particles were found. Experiments were performed in which the marine bivalve (Ruditapes philippinarum) was exposed to AuNPs or dissolved Au and subsequently, bivalve tissues were studied by Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy and chemical analyses. We show that the bivalve accumulates gold in both cases within either the digestive gland or gill tissues, in different concentrations (including values of predicted environmental relevance). After 28 days of exposure, electron-dense deposits (corresponding to AuNPs, as proven by X-ray microanalysis) were observed in the heterolysosomes of the digestive gland cells. Although non-measurable solubility of AuNPs in seawater was found, evidence is presented of the toxicity produced by Au3+ dissolved species (chloroauric acid solutions) and its relevance is discussed.