Some environmental factors and their impact on the fish community composition in the Shatt al-Arab area Shafi, Basrah

Abstract

This study has been done through the period between December, 2012 to November, 2013; samples were collected during low tide on the Shatt al-Arab River in Shafi area. Some a biotic ecological factors was studied (such as water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrates, and phosphates). Total catches fishes were 965 from all species presence in the study area, represent 9 species belong to 6 families; all these species were "Osteichthyes".Mugilidea family was the dominant compare to all fish families, three local (A. mossulensis - A. marmid - L. abu) three marine (A. latus - L. subviridis - T. ilisha) and three alienate species (C. auratus- T.zillii P. sphenops). Which reoresent Five resident species, two seasonal species and two rare species were found. The diversity index was range between 1.26-1.85 during January and June, the eveness index was 0.71 in January and 0.91 in February, March and September, the richness index was between 1.61 in December, February, and 2.08 in May, June, July and August.