Ecological Study of Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Gharaf River Water and The Quality and Quantity of The Phytoplankton Species

Abstract

Three locations were chosen at Gharaf river in Thi Qar governorate southern of Iraq to study the changes monthly of the phytoplankton communities and a study of some physical and chemical properties . Samples were taken for 12 months on the beginning of January to December of the year 2015 . The results were showing that , the river water was hardness and slightly alkaline , also the electrical conductivity and good airation with more concentration of active nitrate in river water , whereas a low concentrations of active phosphate was recorded , whereas the highest values of the Silicate were recorded in the third station (107 - 149) μg /L. It were recorded ( 75) species of algae , the dominance of them are the Bacillariophyceae at the percent (%58.66) , after them the blue green algae(Cyanophyceae) at the percent (%17.2) , the green algae(Chlorophyceae) at the percent (%12) ,Euglenophyceae (%2.66) and Dinophyceae at the percent (%1.33) . A seasonal and geographical variations were noted in the total number of phytoplankton by two increases appeared during spring and autumn ,and the total number of phytoplankton ranged between (3.46 – 13.5) cell x103/cm3.