Additional Records of Freshwater Shrimp (Malacostraca: Crustacea) from Greater Zab River and Their Banks, Iraq

Abstract

Physicochemical and biological samples in two artificial sand mine ponds and Greater Zab River were collected during July to December 2015, in order to evaluate water quality of these studied ecosystems and their effect on existing of two freshwater shrimps, Mysis relicta which was recorded and described as a new record for Iraqi fauna while Macrobrachium nipponense was recorded in southern part of Iraq before more than decades but it regarded as new record in the northern part of Iraq (Kurdistan region). Results showed that pH values were in alkaline side of neutrality, EC in pond 1 was higher than other two sites, dissolved oxygen did not fall under 5 mg.l -1 and BOD 5 values were high and not suitable for drinking purpose. Sources of nutrient in the studied sites comes from runoff and domestic discharge. . Mysis relicta characterized by living in cooled, well aerated ecosystem, but in the present study we found it in ponds with water temperature over 20 °C and oxygen content less than 9 5 mg.l -1 .