The use of bioluminescent biotests for study of natural and laboratory aquatic ecosystems

A set of bioluminescent tests was developed to monitor water quality in nat ural and laboratory ecosystems. It consisted of four bioluminescent systems : luminous bacteria, coupled enzyme system NADH:FMN-oxidoreductaseluciferas e and triplet enzyme systems with alcohol dehydrogenase and trypsin. The se t of biotests was applied for a small forest pond (Siberia, Russia), labora tory microecosystems polluted with benzoquinone and a batch culture of blue -green algae. Thereby effects of natural water compared to those of models of heavy pollution and "bloom" of blue-greens on the bioluminescent tests w ere revealed. The set of biotests was not affected by a natural seasonal va riability of water quality in the unpolluted pond, but responded to the hea vy pollution and the "bloom" of blue-greens. The set of biotests could be r ecommended as the alarm test to control the acute toxicity of natural water bodies. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.