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.
Highlights
The importance of benthic algae in Iraqi aquatic ecosystems was subjected to investigations recently [1]-[4]
The physicochemical parameters of the Al-Shamiyah River were already discussed in terms of seasonal and spatial variation [27]
Total suspended solids (TSS) value was higher at site 1 (39.02 mg/l) and low (16.50 mg/l) at site 3 in January 2014 and April 2013, respectively
Summary
The importance of benthic algae in Iraqi aquatic ecosystems was subjected to investigations recently [1]-[4]. Many authors have previously recognized benthic algae as bioindicators in different aquatic ecosystems of Iraq [5]-[7]. Benthic algae play a role as energy source for many benthic fauna. O. Shaawiat (through the water column and sediment) and transformation of inorganic material into organic via photosynthesis in sediment were known. Shaawiat (through the water column and sediment) and transformation of inorganic material into organic via photosynthesis in sediment were known It was considered as oxygen sources for the water and sediment [7]-[9]. The benthic algae were considered as resistant to alterations of the environment and pollution due to their ability to attach to benthic substrates [10]
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