Quality Appraisal of Surface Waters on Fennoscandian Territory

Widely applied bioindication methods are analyzed based on the survey data of 1980–1996 for over 400 lakes and 300 watercourses in the northeastern Fennoscandia known to experience anthropogenic impact (toxification, acidification, eutrophication, and thermofication). Representative results of hydrobiological analysis of the quality of surface waters in areas with mixed toxic pollution (or anthropogenic acidification) may be obtained if methods are applied, different from the bioindication methods that are now accepted as standard for Russia, along with methods of biotesting natural waters. The saprotoxibity index, Kola biotic index, acidification estimation scale, biotesting methods were developed and adapted to regional conditions.