Biological Characteristics of Two Small Aquatic Ecosystems Uncovered Wells on the Experimental Schoo

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Biological Characteristics of Two Small Aquatic
Ecosystems Uncovered Wells on the Experimental
School Estate of the Faculty of Agriculture
University of Belgrade
Zoran Markovic, Ivana ivic, Vesna Poleksic,
Zorka Dulic and Marko Stankovic Faculty of
Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Belgrade,
Serbia and Montenegro
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• These investigations were carried out as a part
  of Project WATERWEB FP 6 INCO-West Balkan
  (Resources Strategies and Drought Alleviation in
  Western Balkan Agriculture)

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The aim of this investigation was to determine
water quality of two uncovered wells using
aquatic invertebrates - zooplankton and bottom
fauna, as bioindicator organisms.
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uncovered well No.1
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• uncovered well No. 2

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Can water from these sites be used for irrigation
of cultures, as well as a water supply for
aquaculture experimental ponds at the Faculties
Experimental School Estate?
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Material and Methods Investigation were carried
out during 2005, monthly, from April to October
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• Sampling of aquatic invertebrates were performed
  using
• Plankton net (75mm) for zooplankton sampling
• Eckman Birge bottom grab sampler for bottom
  fauna sampling

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• Water quality was determined using Pantle Buck
  method - saprobity index S
• List of bioindicator organisms by Ortendorfer
  Hofrat (1983) was used for water quality analyzes
  

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Additional investigation

• Water field kit was used for measurements of
• water temperature
• dissolved oxygen
• oxygen saturation
• conductivity
• Measurements were performed at 7 different
  depths 0.1m, 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m and 6m

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Results

• We have determined 40 taxa of zooplankton and 5
  taxa of macrozoobenthos.
• Zooplankton was more diverse than
  macrozoobenthos that was expected due to the fact
  that zooplankton is a dominant animal component
  in stagnant aquatic ecosystems

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Using zooplankton as bioindicator organisms,
saprobity index varied from 1.54 to 1.78 (well
No.1) and from 1.30 to 1.87 (well No.2).
Acording to these data water quality
was between I and II class
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Using macrozoobenthos organisms as indicators of
water quality, calculated saprobity index showed
that water quality was in the II class in both
wells. Saprobity index varied from 1.70 to 2.30
in well No.1 and from 2.03 to 2.20 in well No.2.
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• Data analysis of physical and chemical
  characteristics of water of investigated wells
  have shown
• changes along the water column - from the
  surface to the bottom of the wells
• seasonal changes (from April to October)

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Water temperature

• a general pattern of decline from surface to
  bottom of wells.
• highest temperature has been observed in July and
  August as well as the biggest fluctuation of
  water temperature, from 10.10C to 24.1 0C (well
  No.1, July) and from 11.5 to 22.0 0C (well No.1,
  August).

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Dissolved oxygen and oxygen saturation

• decline with depth during all investigation
  months
• sharp decline in oxygen content at the depth of
  2m
• from 3m to 6m there has been continuous low
  oxygen content during the whole investigation
  period
• no oxygen in August at depth 2 - 6m

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Water conductivity

• slightly higher content of mineral maters
• gradual increase with depth, in both wells
• conductivity had overall small fluctuations
• during the whole investigation period,
  conductivity was higher in the well No.2 than in
  well No.1

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Conclusions

• The results of qualitative analysis of
  zooplankton and bottom fauna, as bioindicators of
  water quality, show that water was between I and
  II class (oligosaprobic and ?-mezosaprobic)

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• According to these data two investigated small
  aquatic ecosystems uncovered wells, could be
  used for irrigation of cultures, as well as a
  water supply for aquaculture experimental ponds