Author/Authors :
Hassan, F. M. University of Baghdad - College of Science for Women - Department of Biology, Iraq , Al-Kubaisi, A. A. University of Baghdad - College of Science for Women - Department of Biology, Iraq , Talib, A. H. University of Baghdad - College of Science for Women - Department of Biology, Iraq , Taylor, W. D. University of waterloo - College of Science - Department of Biology, Canada , Abdulah, D. S. University of Basrsh - Marine Science Centre, Iraq
Abstract :
Primary productivity and chlorophyll-a were used in this study to monitor the restoration process of southern Iraqi marshes (Al-Hewaizeh, central marshes, and Al-Hammar). The phytoplankton primary productivity was based on oxygen light/dark bottle method. Two different depths samples were taken monthly from six studied marshes stations (two stations for each marsh) during November 2005 to October 2006, while chlorophyll-a samples taken from surface water. The phytoplankton primary productivity values ranged 9.38 – 249.79 mg C/m3.hr for all marshes, its values for surface water sample ranged 11.71 – 256.24 mg C/m3.hr, while for 1m depth ranged 9.38 – 142.5 mg C/m3.hr. Chlorophyll-a values ranged between (1.1 – 21.26) μg/l indicating high values of productivity in the studied marshes comparing with other aquatic Iraqi ecosystems. Also, dissolved oxygen and oxygen saturation rate were measured in this study.
Keywords :
Phytoplankton , Primary Productivity , Iraqi Marshes , Restoration
