Impact of Physicochemical Parameters on Macroinvertebrates distribution attached to aquatic plants

Abstract

The nutrients especially nitrate and phosphate have proven the main factor that affected the density of macroinvertebrates in the ecology of river. Four sites in two seasons (Spring and Summer) of 2020 have been selected to address the question of how the density of different aquatic macroinvertebrate attached to aquatic plants is correlated with physicochemical variables in the Euphrates river/Kufa city that considered the first study in Iraq. 19 taxa were diagnosis of macroinvertebrates attached to four aquatic plants (Ceratophyllum demersum, Hydrilla verticillata, Potamogeton crispus and Phragmites australis) during the study period. The Chironomidae genus was recorded in all aquatic plants. High diversity species appearance was recorded in an aquatic plant (Phragmites australis). The high density of macroinvertebrates recorded in spring than summer. temporal and spatial significant differences were found. Apparently, these spatial and temporal differences to be associated with variations in anthropogenic pressure, which differs in each area of the river. We observed a positive relationship between the PO4, NO3 and the density of macroinvertebrates attached with Phragmites australis and negative relationship between TDS and density of macroinvertebrates attached with Potamogeton crispus and found a negative relationship between BOD and density of macroinvertebrates attached with Hydrilla verticillata. These relationships suggest the physical and chemical variables affect the distribution of functional groups, abundance or biomass. There have been spatiotemporal variations in physical and chemical conditions of water associated with changes in the concentration of organic matter and nutrients.