Algal Indication of Pollution in the Low Er Jordan River, Israel

Abstract

Abstract. The Lower Jordan River is one of the most polluted in Israel. We used algal bio-indicators to monitor pollution levels in the dry and rainy seasons in order to assess a self-purification capacity of the aquatic ecosystem. We used 135 species of algae and cyanobacteria as indicators of pH, salinity, and organic pollution. The indices of saprobity (S and EPI), river pollution, RPI, and toxicity, BI testify to a greater anthropogenic impact in the lower section, partly owing to influx of pollutants with rain water during the wet season. The aquatic ecosystem state index (WESI) indicates low self-purification activity of biotic communities in this part of the river flow. Multiple Regression Analysis highlighted salinity and trophic elements as the major impact factors for algal diversity. A combination of bio-indication metod, including new integral indices and statistic analysis, and bioassey were found most efficient for monitoring of river ecosystems in Israel.

The Role of Planktonic Algae in the Ecological Assessment of Storage-Reservoirs of the ILI-Balkhash Basin

“…It has been shown that the composition of algal communities changes towards the predominance of species capable of heterotrophic nutrition under the conditions of toxic effect (Barinova et al, 2010a(Barinova et al, , 2010b(Barinova et al, , 2015. Such species are usually flagellate algae from the dinophyte Division.…”

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“…Alkalibiontes, which are tolerant to excessive alkalinity, were represented by 2 species (Figure 2a-f). Most of the rivers and streams in Turkey, Europe and nearby phytogeographic realms have an alkaline character (Barinova et al 2006a;Barinova, et al 2010b;Noga et al 2016;Sládeček, 1986). Indicators of salinity (79 species, 53.4%) were assigned to 4 ecological groups and arranged along the gradient of salinity.…”

“…and Phacus cudatus (Euglenophyta). Many species of the mentioned genus have standing-stream characteristics and wide saprobic tolerance, from oligo-saprobic to mesosaprobic (Barinova et al 2010a;2010b;2011a;Barinova, Nevo & Bragina, 2011b). In fact, most of the species in Table 2 are oligohalobious-indifferent and serve as the indicator species of these ecological …”

“…Bio-indication approaches for river monitoring using algal communities were developed in Israel during the last decade (Barinova, Tavassi & Nevo, 2006a;Barinova, Tavassi, Glassman & Nevo, 2010b;Barinova & Krassilov, 2012;Barinova et al 2016). In bio-monitoring assessments conducted on river ecosystems, the use of algal bio-indicators is becoming more widespread due to changing environmental conditions.…”

Phytoplankton dynamic and bioindication in the Kondopoga Bay, Lake Onego (Northern Russia)

“…The calculated integral index of aquatic ecosystem sustainability (Aquatic Ecosystem State Index, WESI) is based on the water-quality classes (Barinova et al, 2006(Barinova et al, , 2010aBarinova, 2011;Barinova and Krassilov, 2012;Barinova and Sivaci, 2013) reflecting self-purification capacities for each of the sampling stations. If WESI is equal to or larger than 1, the photosynthetic level is positively correlated with the level of nitrate concentration.…”