Utilisation des bioessais "in situ" (substrats artificiels) pour caractériser la qualité des eaux de rivière à l'aide du périphyton

Abstract

The dynamics of periphyton growth on artificial substrata submerged in upstream and downstream stations of stretches of rivers receiving pollution loads has been used to evaluate levels of pollution. The method is based on the determination of global parameters (organic matter, photosynthetic pigments, respiration, photosynthesis, heterotrophic assimilation) characterizing the development of photoautotrophic and heterotrophic communities on artificial substrates. Changes in growth rate and metabolic activity during the immersion period of the substrata follow a general pattern described from series of data collected in three rivers. The results provided by artificial substrata in 22 stations show that these simple parameters are more sensitive indicators of water pollution than indices based on specific composition of algal communities. © Masson, 1988.