TITLE:
A Contribution to the Epipelic Algal Ecology in Lotic Ecosystem of Iraq
AUTHORS:
Fikrat M. Hassan, Ali Obaid Shaawiat
KEYWORDS:
Diatom, Epipelic Algae, Lotic System, Euphrates River
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.6 No.2,
February
5,
2015
ABSTRACT: The study was conducted on epipleic diatoms in a lotic ecosystem. The
Al-Shamiyah River was selected which is a distance from industrial activities.
Four sites along the river were selected for sampling during the period from March
2013 to February 2014. A total of 173 species of epipelic diatoms were
identified. The pennate diatoms predominated and represented about 92.49% of
the total diatoms, while centric diatoms formed only 7.51%. The total number of
diatoms ranged between 185.1 - 422.34 cell × 104/cm2. Some of the pennate diatom species
were Achnanthes affinis Grunow, Achnanthes mintussima Küetzing, Cocconeis placentula var. euglypta (Ehr.) Cleve, Cymbella affinis Küetzing, Diatoma vulgare Bory, Fragilaria
capucina Desmazieres, Gomphonema
angustatum var. productu Grun., Navicula lanceolata (Ag.) Kuetzing, Navicula
radiosa Küetzing, Navicula viridula Küetzing, Nitzschia palea (Kutz.)
W. Smith,Nitzschia romana Grunow. The physicochemical and
epipelic algae species indicated that the water quality of the river was clean
to moderate water quality.