Bodenfaunistische Untersuchungen in Aare und Rhein

The results of the investigations of the river benthos, presented in part I [2], have been further analyzed with regard to statistics, saprobity and diversity. The contagious distribution of the organisms is linked with a great variance, which necessitates a big number of samples and causes problems in interpreting the counts. Different biological and diversity indices have been tested for validity; whereas the saprobic evaluation yielded α-β-mesosaprobic conditions for the river Aare and β-α-mesosaprobic conditions for the river Rhine, the diversity seems not suitable for river classification in our case. Problems concerning biological evaluation of water quality in big rivers are discussed.      

Water quality assessment in reservoirs: Comparative analysis of bioindication systems based on macrobenthos characteristics

Data on the Ruza and Mozhaisk reservoirs are used to analyze the applicability of different sampling methods and bioindication systems for rapid water quality assessment. The collected data were analyzed with the use of twelve biotic indices and their modifications. The mean water quality estimate in the coastal zones of both reservoirs varied from “moderate” to “good” and corresponded to α-mesosaprobic zone. The best performance in saprobity assessment was demonstrated by Pantle–Buck index modified by M.V. Chertoprud in the coastal zone and Balushkina index in soft soils in the central zones of the reservoirs. It is proposed to extend the number of indicator taxa in Pantle–Buck index modified by M.V. Chertoprud by incorporating taxa typical of soft soils, in particular, Chironomid larvae from Chironomus plumosus group. Recommendations are given for carrying out express-monitoring of the state of reservoirs.     

The effect of tributaries on the environmental conditions in the Enisei River

Multidisciplinary studies carried out in 2007–2008 revealed the features of concentration dynamics of biogenic and organic substances, bacterio- and phytoplankton, and chlorophyll in different reaches of the Enisei River. By the development state of bacterio- and phytoplankton, saprobity index, total primary production g O₂/(m² day), and self-purification index, the water refers to the third quality class (satisfactorily clean), β-mesosaprobic. The Enisei refers to the oligotrophic type upstream of the Angara mouth and to the mesotrophic type downstream of it.     

Macrozoobenthos as an Indicator of the Level of the Trophy and Saprobity of Lake Jarun

During complex ecological investigations on Lake Jarun (and neighbouring interstitial underground waters) which took place in 1984 and 1985, macrozoobenthos was also studied. Its qualitative and quantitative composition in a large part depends on the degree of trophy and saprobity of the water. Specially examined were the oligochaetes and chironomids larvae, which besides having a large numerical percentage also occurred with a large number of species. In addition, the representatives of other groups of macroscopic invertebrates were also mentioned, especially those which have a special significance as indicators of a certain degree of trophy and saprobity, and which are important because of their oasis preservation in this ecosystem.     

Zur Inaktivierung von Erregern übertragbarer Krankheiten in Gewässern

Germs of infectious diseases are not adapted to the environment of waters but to their hosts. Therefore, as allochthonous elements they survive there only for a short time for the most part; individual germs, however, are much more resistant under these environmental conditions, in dependence on their species or type. At a higher initial germ content the period of survival in general is longer than at a lower one. For inactivation in waters e.g. the following causes may be responsible: nutrient deficiency, unfavourable water temperature, redox potential, saprobity, chemical constituents, including metabolic products of aquatic organisms, solar light osmotic pressure, settling material and suspended solids, bacteriophages.     

Indicator Value of Freshwater Leeches (Hirudinea) with a Key to the Determination of European Species

For the 33 species of Hirudinea in the fresh waters of Central Europe the following saprobiological data are given: saprobic valency, indicative weight and specific saprobic index. A detailed key is established for determining the 33 species, with a large number of pictures. All the species have a relatively wide range of ecological valency, so that their application for determining the degree of saprobity is meaningful only in connection with different types of indicators.     

Vergleichende aquatoxikologische Ergebnisse mit ausgewählten Wasserschadstoff-Gruppen und repräsentativen Wasserorganismen

Salmo gairdneri, Cyprinus carpio, Poecilia reticulata, Leuciscus idus melanotus, Asellus aquaticus, Ankistrodesmus falcatus and Monoraphidium griffithii were exposed to four growth regulating herbicides, four photosynthesis toxicants, lindane, an anionactive tenside, KCN and Na₃[Cu(CN)₄] in standardized toxicity tests. The biochemical degradability of the substances was tested with activated sludge. In order to test the possible effects in waters there should be used Salmo for the oligosaprobic zone. Poecilia as well as Ankistrodesmus and Monoraphidium provide reliable estimations for β-mesosaprobic waters. With respect to the longer-term permission of plant protection products, besides Salmo there can be recommended also Leuciscus.     

Macrophytes as indicators of the ecological state of small rivers in Minsk Region

The ecological state of 18 small rivers in Minsk Region was for the first time estimated by jointly used macrophyte-based characteristics, including saprobity index, biological macrophyte index for rivers, and a scale of cenotic/supercenotic organization of aquatic and coastal-aquatic plants. Rivers with relatively safe ecological status were shown to dominate, while other rivers are in a safe and satisfactory state. The proposed approach to determining the ecological quality of watercourses is based on the calculation of a complex characteristic, i.e., an integral macrophyte index of small river ecological status; this index has been developed in the context of a classification scheme of surface water quality in the National Environmental Monitoring System of the Republic of Belarus.     

Diatoms as Indicators of Organic Pollution

There is given a list of 323 taxa of freshwater diatoms occurring in waters of Central Europe. Each taxon is characterized by 10 balls of saprobic valence, the indicative weight of species (I_i) and by the individual saprobic index (S_i) indicating its position on a conventional scale of saprobity. Diatoms are very common aquatic organisms, but are only medium or bad indicators of saprobity, because their saprobic valence is usually wide.     

Modification of Pantle–Buck Technique for Assessing Watercourse Pollution Based on Macrobenthos Quality Characteristics

A new index is proposed for water quality assessment in rivers and creeks. The index is similar to the Pantle–Buck saprobity index, but is based on qualitative characteristics and uses macrobenthos families (rarely genera), for which original values of saprobity and indicator weight are given. Data collected at 245 watercourses in the central European Russia are used to study the correlation of the new index with the anthropogenic load onto watercourses, as well as with the watercourse type and size and the type of substrate. The index is shown to be more effective than the Pantle-Buck index modified by Sladecek and the Woodiwiss index and applicable for rapid assessment of watercourse pollution.     

Elimination of Nutrients in the Rozkoš-Reservoir

The reservoir, having a volume of 76 hm³, a surface area of 1001 ha and a maximum depth of 17 m, is divided by a dam into two parts. Half of the upper part with an area of 200 ha is densely covered by macrophytes (Elodea, Potamogeton). The three main tributaries with 2.6 m³/s on an average are highly polluted and show α-mesosaprobic conditions. The reservoir is investigated between September and March in its longitudinal section at eight stations. The organic load and the total solids show a total decrease by 60% and 66%, respectively, and 70% of this selfpurification occurs in the upper, separated part of the reservoir. In the same way, also the total nitrogen is reduced, whereas the total phosphorus is reduced already in the upper part of the reservoir by 71%, then decreasing to 21% in the second part of the reservoir. With phosphorus, besides the biological elimination obviously also precipitation by the dissolved iron occurs, the concentration of which is reduced by 44 or 76%, resp. The bacteriological load of water improved by two to three orders of magnitude.     

Phytoplankton and Its Pigment Characteristics as Production Indexes of the Upper Volga Reservoirs (Yaroslavl Province)

The materials presented in this paper were collected in the course of studies of phytoplankton and photosynthetic pigments in the Upper Volga reservoirs within the territory of Yaroslavl province. In 1995–2000, the phytoplankton in these water bodies was found to be represented mainly by diatom, blue-green, green, and in some cases, cryptophyte algae. It was found that in the channel parts of the reservoirs, the population of planktonic algae varied from 25 to 96180 thousand cell/l, their biomass, from 0.009 to 5.54 mg/l, and the chlorophyll content, from 0.4 to 22.4 g/l. The values of saprobity index in terms of phytoplankton were found to characterize waters of all the three reservoirs as -mesosaprobic, and the extent of blue-green algae development in the overwhelming majority of cases was classed as environmentally safe, although their abundance in the coastal zone sometimes is an indication of a substantial deterioration in water quality.     

Fate of antibiotics during wastewater treatment and antibiotic distribution in the effluent-receiving waters of the Yellow Sea,northern China

Antibiotics including three β-lactams, two fluoroquinolones and two macrolides, which were the top seven most prescribed antibiotics in Dalian, China, were selected to investigate their occurrence in six municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and their distribution in the effluent-receiving waters of the Yellow Sea. Four WWTPs employing different treatment technologies were selected to explore the mechanism of antibiotics elimination during wastewater treatment. Results showed that fluoroquinolones and macrolides were dominant species in both WWTPs effluents and the surveyed coastal waters. Biodegradation was the main pathway for β-lactams removal, however, primary treatment performed better than biological treatment for fluoroquinolones removal. Concentrations of macrolides increased dramatically after the biological treatment, which was probably due to the release of macrolides enclosed in feces particles. In the surveyed coastal waters, reduction of antibiotic concentration with distance was observed. Potential environmental risk caused by the occurrence of these antibiotics should be evaluated in future work.     

Testacea (Protozoa: Rhizopoda) in the Epilithion of the Lotic Stretch of Running Waters of Different Degrees of Saprobity (Czechoslovakia)

In 1976 to 1981 Testacea were followed in the epilithion of the lotic stretch of running waters of different degrees of saprobity. 225 samples were processed altogether; 56 taxa and 1859 individuals were found in them. For the individual degrees of saprobity the index of species diversity (H') was calculated as well as the index of saprobity (S). Most taxa and individuals were found in the beta-mesosaprobic degree. The following may be considered characteristic species for the oligosaprobic degree: Centropyxis sylvatica and Cyphoderia ampulla. For the beta-mesosaprobic degree they are Centropyxis aculeata, Euglypha acanthophora and Trinema lineare. Other species cannot be considered to be realiable indicators.     

Zur ökonomischen Bedeutung der biologischen Selbstreinigung

In twelve flowing water (Q 1.04… 30.4 m³/s, 0.5… 1.2 m/s) the self-purification efficiency in 110 river sections (L 1.3… 26.4 km) is determined as the load difference in kg · d^?1 COD-Mn as well as in g · m^?3 referred to the daily passage. In the economical comparison, the self-purification efficiency is valued as substitution for wastewater treatment plants of the same capacity. At a mean specific capacity of 8.6 g · m^?3, the self-purification efficiency of the investigated waters is equivalent to economical values of 124 · 10³… 534 · 10³ M km^?1 investment costs, 11 · 10³… 80 · 10³ M · a^?1km^?1 operating costs and 5… 81 MWh · a^?1 km^?1 expenditure of energy. The specific capacity in g · m^?3 COD-Mn shows an exponential regression to the degree of saprobity (L = 0.015 · exp (1.7358 · S)). From this empirical model the limits of the self-purification capacity of aerobic waters by oxygen input can be detected: in respective examples more than 50% of the required oxygen input are due to weirs.     

Die neue EG‐Wasserrahmenrichtlinie: Bewertung der chemischen und ökologischen Qualität von Oberflächengewässern

The New EC Framework Water Directive: Assessment of the Chemical and Ecological Status of Surface Waters The main objective of the draft EC Framework Water Directive is the good quality of all surface waters. The directive provides for an assessment of the chemical status of surface waters (EU‐wide valid environmental quality standards for approximately 30 priority substances) and a five‐stage ecological classification of waters, comprising the stages high, good, moderate, poor, and bad. The starting point for the assessment are the reference conditions, which are defined as corresponding to high water quality and characterising a water status with no significant anthropogenic impact. The reference sites in the various water body types are to be selected using hydromorphological and physico‐chemical parameters and subsequently characterised by means of biological parameters. For surface waters, three groups of characteristics are provided for, namely: 1. with priority the biology – in the case of surface waters – with the four elements phytoplankton, macrophytes/phytobenthos, benthic invertebrate fauna, and fish fauna; 2. supporting the hydromorphology, e.g. flowing waters with the three elements hydrological regime, river continuity, and morphological conditions and 3. supporting the physico‐chemical conditions with the three elements general conditions, specific synthetic pollutants, and specific non synthetic pollutants (other than the priority substances of the chemical status).     

Evaluation of the possibility for phytoplankton monitoring frequency reduction in the coastal waters of the Community of Valencia, in the scope of the Water Framework Directive

The Water Framework Directive, under the European Legislation, requires that all European waters, should reach a good ecological status by 2015. To achieve this goal, a phytoplankton monitoring network with monthly water samplings was established to evaluate the ecological quality, in the coastal waters of the Community of Valencia, and the collected data have allowed us to study the efficiency of the monthly campaigns of the monitoring network. With the results obtained in this research, we have designed a new monitoring strategy for the coastal waters of Valencia that for certain water bodies can mean lower sampling frequency. The new monitoring policy provides results as reliable as the previous strategy and allows a precise ecological classification of water bodies at a lower cost. The methodologies we have developed can be used in other monitoring networks and are not limited by geographic location or by the type of water body.     

Water Quality Estimation in the Kotorosl' River Basin Based on Zoobenthos Composition

Water quality and the levels of pollution in biological communities of the Kotorosl' River and its major tributaries (the Sara, Lakhost', Mogza, and Pakhma rivers) are estimated by using a considerable body of hydrobiological characteristics (the Pantle–Buck saprobity index and its modifications by Rotshain and the indices of species diversity developed by Shannon; Balushkina; Woodiwiss; Parele; Toderash; Goodnight and Whitley; and Carr, Hiltunenn, and Wright) from the data on the seasonal dynamics of macrozoobenthos. An ecological and sanitary classification of water quality that was developed for this type of rivers is presented. Indices based on the characteristics of oligochaetes, as well as on the taxonomic composition of communities and characteristics of the most indicative species, are shown to be the best choice for characterization of organic pollution prevailing in the Kotorosl' River basin.     

Assessment of the ecological quality status of soft-bottoms in Reunion Island (tropical Southwest Indian Ocean) using AZTI marine biotic indices

The ability of the two synthetic marine biotic indices, AMBI and M-AMBI, to account for changes in the ecological quality of coastal soft bottoms of Reunion Island according to disturbances was assessed from macrobenthic samples collected in five sectors between 1994 and 2004. Samples were collected under non-perturbed conditions and at two sites subjected to heavy organic enrichment. Both indices are based on a classification of macrofauna into ecological groups (EG), and their transfer to tropical waters required some adaptations. These indices proved efficient in detecting a degradation of habitat quality. Their use resulted in the classification of all sites sampled between 1996 and 1998 as "good" or "high". M-AMBI nevertheless tended to result in the attribution of a slightly worse ecological quality status than AMBI. Together with an update of the EG species list for the Indian Ocean area, our results support the extension of both indices for the assessment of tropical soft bottoms.