The Effect of Environmental Variables on the Distribution of some Submerged Aquatic Plants Eastern Al-Hammar and Al-Chebiyesh

Abstract

This study aims to determine some physical and chemical factors and their impact on the abundance and distribution of some submersible aquatic plants for four selected stations in the southern marshes, two stations in the Eastern Hammar marshes (Al-Burga and Al-Sada) and two stations in the Al-Chebiyesh marshes (Abu-Sobat and Al-Baghdadia). Water and plant samples were collected seasonally during the year 2018. The water temperature, electrical conductivity, water depth were estimated physical variables, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, and phosphate concentration as well as chemical variables for water samples, as well as estimation of biomass, percentage of vegetation cover, and frequency of submerged plant species. The results showed that the highest water temperature was 34.45 °C in the Abu Sobat station during the summer, while the lowest temperature was recorded at 10.85 °C in the Al-Burga station during the winter. The highest depths of water during the winter in the Al-Sada station and the lowest depths in Al-Baghdadia station during the summer. The lowest value of dissolved oxygen was 4 mg/L in Al-Baghdadia during the summer, while the highest value was 9. The biomass, vegetation cover, and frequency were estimated for four plant species, which are the most present and widespread in the various study stations, which are includedCeratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Najas marina, Potamogeton perfoliatus. The percentage of similarity between the different study stations was also calculated.