An Ecological study for non-diatom epiphytic algal population on P.australis and C.demersum plants in Bani-Hassan River in holy Kerbala province -Iraq

Abstract

The current study was carried out in four sites along with Bani-Hassan River the holy Kerbala city. Monthly sampling was taken from the study area for the period of November 2015 to October 2016. The study included measurement of some physiochemical parameters as well as qualitative and quantitative of epiphytic algae that attached on Phragmits australis and Ceratophyllum demersum .The present study results showed a clear association between air and water temperature which ranged (15-40) °C and (11-34) °C respectively. A narrow range of pH was noticed in the studied stream (6.4-8.0) during the study period . The electric conductivity and salinity were (1050-1980) µs/cm and (1.23-0.10) ‰ respectively. Total dissolved solids was (510-990) mg/l. and the total hardness values ranged (360-1250) mg/l , calcium and magnesium values ranged (81-713.4) mg/l and (9.2-379.3) mg/l, respectively. Sulphate was ranged between 2.5 mg/l and 18.3 mg/l . Water nutrients values were (ND-59.1)µg/l, (ND-13.6)µg/l for phosphate and nitrate respectively , While total taxa 78 of epiphytic algae were identified and comprised of 54 species of Chlorophyceae and 16 species Cyanophyceae and 6 species of Xanthophyceae then 2 species of Dinophyceae . Some species appeared in all stations and in large numbers like Oscillatoria , Oedogonium, Scendesmus and Pediastum. Three new species were identified as a new species for Iraqi algal flora: Oedogonium calvum , Tetradesmus wisconsinse , Tetraedron regulare var.incus Teilin .