The Role of Emergent Aquatic Macrophytes in Changing Water Quality at Al-Shafi Marsh, Southern Iraq

Mohammed A Al-Kenzawi,Altaf A Al-Rawi

doi:10.24126/jobrc.2009.3.1.39

Abstract

This study was done at Al-Shafi marsh, southern Iraq, to determine the role of emergent aquatic macrophytes in changing the water quality. Three dominant emergent aquatic macrophytes were identified in the marsh and the vegetation cover percentages for them were measured, which were Phragmites australis covers 40%, Typha domengensis covers 30%, and Schoinoplectus litoralis covers 15%, while the other 15% was open water. The water environmental variables [pre the marsh, in the marsh (distributed emergent macrophytes), and post the marsh] were measured. The statistical program t-test was applied at the significant levels (P-value < 0.01) and (P-value < 0.05) to know the significant differences in the environmental variables among the sites. This study showed that light penetration, total suspended solids, water turbidity, nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate concentrations differed significantly (P < 0.01). While, Water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, calcium, and magnesium were differed significantly (P < 0.05) among the sites. In addition, no significant differences in electrical conductivity, salinity, and chloride were observed by emergent macrophytes. Therefore, this study concluded that emergent macrophytes play important role in changing some water characteristics

Highlights

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers have created about 15,000 km2 of wetlands known as the Mesopotamian marshes
The significant difference in water temperature may be due to the emergent aquatic macrophytes and can have a strong influence on the temperature within the aquatic environment, plants presence decreases evaporation from the water s surface, whereas more evaporation occurs in open water, air temperature and radiant energy from the sun have the greatest influence on water temperature [18]
The results of the present study showed the significant effect for emergent macrophytes on light penetration, turbidity, and total suspended solids

Summary

Introduction

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers have created about 15,000 km of wetlands known as the Mesopotamian marshes These wetlands comprise a complex of interconnected shallow freshwater lakes and marshlands, which are considered the most extensive wetland ecosystem in the Middle East [1]. Water levels reach their maximum in early spring and fall by as much as two meters during the hot dry summer [2]. Less than 10% of the marshlands in Iraq remain as fully functioning wetlands because of the extensive drainage and upstream agricultural irrigation programs on Tigris and Euphrates rivers [3]. Restoration by reflooding of drained marshes is proceeding in the Central and Al-Hammar marshlands [5]

Objectives

Findings

Conclusion