Partner: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management - Republic Directorate for Waters

Period: 2025.

Project leader: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management - Republic Directorate for Waters

Team members from IBISS:
Dr. Bojana Tubić, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Momir Paunović, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Natasa Popović, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Maja Raković, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Jelena Tomović, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Katarina Zorić, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Ana Atanacković, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Jelena Đuknić, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Nikola Marinković, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Stefan Anđus, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Božica Vasiljević, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Jelena Čanak Atlagić, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Vesna Đikanović, Department of hydroecology and water protection IBISS
Dr. Katarina Jovicić, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Stoimir Kolarević, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Margareta Kracun Kolarević, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Snezana Jarić, Department of Ecology IBISS
Dr. Marija Ilić, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Jelena Stanković Ristić, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Dr. Irena Todorović, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Andrea Novaković, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Luka Grbović, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS
Tamara Mitić, Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection IBISS

External advisors:
Environmental Protection Agency of the Republic of Serbia, the Republic Hydrometeorological Institute, the Faculty of Biology of the University of Belgrade
The Department of Biology of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the University of Novi Sad
The Department of Biology of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the University of Niš
The Institute of Biology and Ecology of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the University of Kragujevac
The Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanović Batut", Belgrade

Abstract

The “Joint Danube Survey 5” (JDS5) was carried out under the coordination of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), with national coordination provided by the Republic Directorate for Waters (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management). Sampling was conducted in July 2025 at a total of 12 sites, including five locations along the Danube (river km 588, encompassing the middle and partly lower Danube) and seven sites on major tributaries (the Tisza, Sava, Velika Morava, and Timok rivers).

The Serbian implementation focused on harmonised sampling along the national Danube stretch and selected tributaries, integrating classical biological monitoring (macroinvertebrates, fish, phytoplankton, phytobenthos, and macrophytes) with advanced approaches such as eDNA/eRNA-based biodiversity assessment, microbiological indicators, microplastics analysis, passive sampling of contaminants, and targeted chemical analyses in water, biota, and sediments. All activities were conducted in accordance with the JDS5 Survey Plan and the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

Through the application of standardised protocols, interlaboratory comparisons, and joint activities, the Serbian component contributed to improved methodological harmonisation across Danube countries and enhanced the comparability of national datasets.