In Réunion Island, expanding human populations, urbanization and agriculture during the last 50 years have all contributed to a steady increase in the level of nitrates in drinking water. Various nitrate point sources are responsible for the nitrate contamination around the island including chemical fertilizers, animal effluent applied to pasture and crops, and urban waste such as sewage and domestic waste water. In terms of agricultural fertilizers, pig effluent is the most widely used, but the cumulative effects of slurry applications on soil water and groundwater are unknown. Our objectives were (1) to characterize and follow in situ the fate of nitrogen through the subsurface after application of pig effluent onto a cultivated soil using stable nitrate isotopes, 15N and 18O, and (2) to compare the isotopic signatures of Réunion Island's principal aquifers with results from the experimental site to infer potential contamination sources. The study was conducted on an experimental field site planted with maize in the western part of Réunion Island during the rainy season. A control site with no fertilizer application to the maize was compared with the investigation site which had pig effluent applied once a year. The site which had pig effluent applied over one year had an average maximum surface soil water 15N-NO-3 value of +9.0% at 0.45 m depth. This signature was significantly more enriched in 15N than the corresponding subsurface soil water 15N-NO? 3 value of +3.8%_ at 10 m depth. The control site average maximum surface soil water 15N-NO? 3 value of +3.6%_ at 0.45 m is similar to the subsurface pig effluent application plot. This indicates that nitrates derived from pig effluent have not reached 10 m depth in the subsurface, even though over the last 18 months this site was subjected to two effluent applications, each around 200 kg N ha?1, and more than 1900 mm of rain, more than half of which drains directly into the root zone. This slow migration shows that mobilization of nitrates through cultivated soil can take many tens of years before infiltrating and contaminating the saturated zone situated at several tens, and in places, hundreds of meters depth. On an island-wide scale, an isotopic assessment of nitrates from the experimental site's soil water and other drinking water wells highlights a nitrogenous contaminations derived primarily from urban and/or agriculture via effluent application. (Résumé d'auteur)

Effects of soil properties on the accumulation of metals to wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) were evaluated at two sites with different pH and organic matter content of the soil. pH and organic matter content significantly affected accumulation of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in earthworms and vegetation. For Cd, Cu and Zn these effects propagated through the food web to the wood mouse. Soil-to-kidney ratios differed between sites: Cd: 0.15 versus 3.52, Cu: 0.37 versus 1.30 and Zn: 0.33-0.83. This was confirmed in model calculations for Cd and Zn. Results indicate that total soil concentrations may be unsuitable indicators for risks that metals pose to wildlife. Furthermore, environmental managers may, unintentionally, change soil properties while taking specific environmental measures. In this way they may affect risks of metals to wildlife, even without changes in total soil concentrations.

The paper presents the results of aquatic macroinvertebrates community analyses of the Milesevka river (Lim river watershed; Sava river basin) with aim to evaluate saprobiological status. Sampling was carried out on five localities during 2005. A diverse community (62 taxa) has been recorded during the investigation. Results of saprobiological investigation indicate satisfactory water quality, which is, according to national legislative, within 1st and 2nd quality class.

This paper presents the data of sediment quality in the zone of three sources for water supply in Novi Sad, Serbia. The data indicate that the sediment in the area of these sources contain petroleum products (mineral oils) above the permissible concentrations. Only in one sample of sediment was detected DDT / DDD / DDE in the location of the source against the Strand wells RB-1 in a concentration which can specify as the maximum risk. The data indicate a significant anthropogenic influence of refinery waste water and urban waste water, motor boats in the marine (source Strand) and anchor of ships (source Petrovaradinska Ada) on the quality of sediment in these sources.

Research of presence and distribution of algal ordo Cystoseira has been done in 8 locations of Montenegrin coast. Presence of 8 species is confirmed and analysis of their aggregation on locations and aggregation of locations based on physico-chemical parameters of sea water and exposition to the waves are studied. Possibility of using these organisms as bioindicators is suggested.

Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus is decapod crustacean species that has not been sufficiently researched on the Montenegrin coast. The trawl survey was carried out in the framework of the national research project: The biological resources, edible and inedible, in the trawl fishery on the Montenegrin coast. The spring, summer and autumn aspects were taken into consideration. There is no data regarding the Norway lobster on the Montenegrin coast. The aim of this paper is to give the information about partitipation of this very important commercial species in the trawl fishery on the shelf and continental slope at the Montenegrin coast as well as catch per unit of effort.