SECTION 2 



PRINCIPLES OF ESTIMATION OF NORMAL AND PATHOLOGIC STATES 

 OF RESERVOIRS WITH CHEMICAL POLLUTION 



N.S. Stroganov^ 



A need has been demonstrated for giving hydrobiologic principles 

 priority over other principles in the evaluation of the status of a reser- 

 voir. The starting point for development of principles for evaluation is 

 the need to preserve pure water in the reservoir, in which valuable commer- 

 cial organisms can exist for long periods of time, and for fresh reservoirs, 

 suitable also for supplying potable water. A reservoir which has water of 

 this quality can be considered normal, one which does not have these 

 qualities must be considered pathologic. Unless man's use of the water is 

 brought into the picture, there is no foundation for speaking of the degree 

 of normality of reservoirs. 



The degree of pathology may differ. Selection of the species of aquatic 

 organisms to be protected by man will be determined primarily by the func- 

 tional significance of the species in the cycle of matter in the aquatic 

 ecosystem, assuring good water quality and high productivity of valuable 

 commercial species. 



For water toxicology, theoretically, scientific determination of the 

 limits of permissible changes in hydrobiologic processes in an organism is 

 of great importance. 



The increase in man's effect on nature (Bernadskiy 1967), including sur- 

 face reservoirs and streams, has set for mankind a number of new problems 

 which must be solved as quickly as possible. Man began influencing nature 

 long ago. Ecologic crises have occurred in the past (Budyko 1977), but they 

 have become particularly striking in certain regions since the 1940s. The 

 situation has deteriorated to the point that the outlook of many toward the 

 relationship of man and nature is quite pessimistic. We hear predictions of 

 ecologic catastrophes (Douglas 1975), and various plans are set forth to 

 avoid such catastrophes (Medouz, et al^. 1972), and thus, the ecologic crises 

 are denied for the present time (Budyko 1977). The disruption of equili- 

 brium between man and nature is real. While it should not be drawn in emo- 

 tional terms, there are rational means for solution of the problem. Probably 

 the greatest of all problems with which society has ever wrestled (Oldak 



^Moscow State University, Biology Faculty, Lenin Hills, B-234 Moscow, USSR. 



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