Quantitative characteristics of aquatic Macrophytes in the restored Southern Iraqi marshes

Abstract

The present work is dealing with determination of quantitive characteristic of aquatic macrophytes (density, cover and frequency). six stations of three restored Southern marshes in Iraq, were selected (Um Alnaaj, Taraba, Amia, Wineas, Burkah, and Saddah) from Autumn 2004 to Spring 2005.Stations were chosen in on the basis of the similarity of wetland vegetation along with the drought condition. Quantitative characteristic of plant species varied in the investigated localities. A clear impact of temperature on the density of entire emergent dominated species at all stations except Phragmites australis that correlated with organic matters. The density of P. australis in Al-Amia station was higher than other stations (39 indi./m²). Detectable monthly changes were found in cover of dominated species. The highest (100%) was recorded in Taraba station.