Abundance and diversity of Cladocera in South Al-Hammar Marshes - Southern Iraq


Abstract in English

Zooplankton samples were collected seasonally from three stations in the south of Al-Hammar Marshes southern Iraq during the period from January to December 2011, by Plankton net of a mouth aperture of 40 cm and a mesh-size 0.90 mm mounted with a flow meter in the mouth. The results showed that the population density of Cladocera ranged between 79 ind/m3 during winter at station 1 (Al-Mas-hab) and 41971 ind/m3 during spring at station 2 (Hareer). Density of Cladocera was positively correlated with water temperature and to a lesser extent with salinity. About 13 species of Cladocera belonging to 11 genera were recorded at three stations. The high values of diversity were recorded in winter at all stations (1.68, 1.16, and 1.68 respectively) while the lowest values were recorded during spring at all stations (0.06, 0.03, and 0.01 respectively).

References used

AJEEL, S. G. Abundance and distribution of zooplankton in some waters in southern region of Iraq. Mar. Mesop., 19 (1): 2004. 95 - 115
AJEEL, S. G.; ALI, M.H. and SALMAN, S.D. Population dynamics of Simocephalus vetulus (Crustacea: Cladocera) in Basrah. Mar. Mesop., 15 (2): 2000. 593 - 612
AJEEL, S.G.; ALI, M.H. and SALMAN, S.D. Cladocera from Shatt Al-Arab and some temporary ponds in Basrah. Mari. Mesop., 16 (1): 2001. 309 - 329

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