Ecological status of Serbian rivers based on an ichthyological assessment

Abstract

Anthropogenic influences on fish populations in river ecosystems can be studied at the individual level, as well as through the assessment of fish fauna composition. This study presents research that was focused at the individual level, such as the analysis of genotoxic effects (Comet assay), assessment of the heavy metal accumulation in fish liver, gills, intestine and muscle, histopathological analysis of liver, gills and skin, presence of parasites and the level of parasite infestation, hepatosomatic index and the condition factor. At the level of fish fauna composition, monitoring of the changes caused by dam construction was conducted through the use of modified index of biotic integrity (IBI). The aim of this work was to analyze all above listed parameters as potential bioindicators that can be utilized to assess the extent of disturbance of river systems in Serbia by anthropogenic impacts.