Planiliza Abu Research Articles

Effect of nanoemulsified and encapsulated Planiliza abu protein on fortified yogurt

AbstractFortified dairy products such as yogurt have attracted a lot of attention due to the increasing concern for public health. This study aimed to determine the effects of nanoemulsified and a microencapsulated protein hydrolysate obtained from Planiliza abu on some of the properties of yogurt. The physicochemical, rheological, microbiological, and sensory evaluation of the fortified yogurt samples stored at 4°C were assessed during 21 days. The fish protein hydrolysates (FPHs) < or >10 kDa protein were used. The amino acid profile of Planiliza abu was glutamic acid (78.99%), aspartic acid (59.53%), and lysine (53.54%). No significant change was observed in titratable acidity (TA) and pH of supplemented yogurts during refrigeration. The highest survival level of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), water‐holding capacity (WHC), and viscosity and the lowest syneresis were observed in fortified samples with FPH <10 kDa. The highest ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) was achieved in yogurt fortified with nanoemulsion FPH < 10 kDa (NEh10a, 0.41 mg/g). The results showed that fortified yogurt with FPH, particularly less than 10 kDa, is among the desirable functional food with appropriate gel network and consistency as well as better taste and mouth feel, and higher overall acceptance.

Sequencing the Parasitic Nematode Contracaecum spp. in Edible Fish (Planiliza Abu)

Contracaecum rudolphii Hartwich,1 964 (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea, Anisakidae) is a typical anisakid recorded globally. Consumption of undercooked seafood, raw or infected, contains the nematode larvae that cause human anisakidosis . Fish (Planiliza abu) specimens were obtained from a local market in Karbala, Iraq. This type of fish came from the Razzaza Lake. The prevalence of Contracaecum spp. parasites was done over eight months from June 2022 until January 2023, using ITS1, morphological and molecular analysis of the nematodes Contracaecum spp from fish. Out of 395 fish, 124(31.3%) had visceral infections caused by Contracaecum spp. larval type (L3). The morphological and genetic identification of Contracaecum spp. was validated in the parasitology laboratory of the veterinary medicine college at Kerbala University. The result showed the infection rate in January 2023 was (46.6%) and it dropped in 2022, September with a percentage of (20%). With the use of ITS1 gene, the molecular analysis for Contracaecum spp. was to investigate Contracaecum spp. and to confirm it. However, the nematode count, number of infected fish, and length were all substantially different at the P≤0.05. This study detected the isolate=(a1) at the locus=OP787071 and sequencing the parasites. The isolates were confirmed as Contracaecum rudolphii, isolate a1 internal transcribed spacer 1, partial sequence. In conclusion, molecular genotyping might be a useful technique for identifying the Contracaecum L3 larval species., life-cycle biology, transmission methods, and types of intermediate hosts.

Ecological dynamics of Al-Chibayish marshes in southern Iraq: Insights into water quality, fish genetic affinity, and conservation implications

The aim of this paper is to comprehensively investigate and analyze the ecological dynamics of the Al-Chibayish Marsh. The study focuses on key environmental factors, aims to gain insight into the diversity and abundance of fish populations within the marsh, identifies dominant fish families, and assesses monthly changes in species composition. Two locations were chosen from among the Al-Chibayish marshes for this study, and three water samples were collected every month at every site, starting from March 2020 to February 2021. The mean water temperature recorded was 23.66 °C, while the salinity content exhibited variation over the study period. In July, the salinity content measured 4.34 g/l. Moreover, the pH ranged from 7.4 to 8.5. Dissolved oxygen levels exhibited seasonal variation, with an average value of 7.65 mg/l. The mean alkalinity value was 155.25 mg/l. Planiliza abu is the predominant species in terms of relative abundance, constituting 25.99 % of the total catch. Its percentages varied from 12.13 % in May to 46.74 % in December, with Alburnus sellal accounting for 19.07 % of the catch, with variations between 5.10 % in May and 30.99 % in June. Oreochromis aureus comprised 15.98 % of the total and fluctuated from 11.17 % in March to 20.27 % in January. Other notable species include Carassius auratus (13.10 %), Coptodon zillii (10.49 %), and Carasobarbus luteus (3.80 %). The H index exhibited variation over time, with values ranging from 1.25 in March to a peak of 2.99 in October. On the other hand, the J index also displayed temporal variability, with values ranging from 0.65 in April to 0.86 in August, while the D index showed changes as well, with values differing from 1.66 in March to 3.79 in January. Finally, based on these data, the ecosystem in the study area can be considered a fragile system.

Investigating of Protozoa Parasites in Some Fish Species in Tigris River-Salah Al-Din Governorate

The currently study was achieved from February 2021 to end January 2022 in order to investigate the external and intestinal parasites in some fish species of Tigris River passing Tikrit city. During the period of this study, 580 fish were collected that belonged to 8 species including Acanthobrama marmid, Alburnus sellal, Chondrostoma regium, Cyprinion kais, Cyprinius carpio, Leuciscus vorax, Mystus pelusius, and Planiliza abu. Also, it involves 6 species of protozoa as following: Eimeria sinensis, Apiosoma megamicronucleate, Chilodonella cyprinid, Trichodina domerguei, Trichodina elegini and Trichodina heterodentata.

Isolation and Diagnosis of the Myxozoa Parasitizing in some Fish Species in Tigris River at Salah Al-Din Governorate, Iraq

The currently study was achieved from February 2021 to end January 2022 to investigate the external and intestinal parasites in some fish species of Tigris river passing Tikrit city. During the period of this study, 580 fish were collected that belonged to seven families and 16 species. These fish are represented 45 Acanthobrama marmid, 40 Alburnus sellal, 30 Arabibarbus grypus, 65 Carasobarbus luteus, 55 Chondrostoma regium, 60 Cyprinion kais, 60 Cyprinius carpio, 50 Leuciscus vorax, 21 Luciobarbus xanthopterus, 14 Squalius Lepidus, 13 Mystus pelusius, 10 Silurus triostegus, 10 Heterropneutes fossilis, 12 Mastacembelus mastacemblus, 30 Coptodon zilli and 65 Planiliza abu. This study diagnosis 12 species of Myxoblus: M. bouixi, M. bramae, M. branchiophilus, M. cyprinicola, M. dispar, M. ellipsoides, M. infundibulatus, M. koi, M. magnus, M. molnari, M. musculi, and M. shaerica.

Molecular Identification of Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) from Planiliza abu in Darbandikhan Lake

A total of 100 fishes belonged to Planiliza abu (Heckel, 1843) were taken from Darbandikhan Lake in Sulaimani Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq from December 2023 to February 2024. The fish were checked for parasitic acanthocephalan. The research showed that Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis existed. In this study, 18S rDNA and DNA sequencing were used to identify N. iraqensis. The findings of the molecular analysis show that 533 bp was the PCR product of N. iraqensis and observed the smallest genetic distance with Neoechinorhynchus sp. GL-2015 (KU363972.1) and Neoechinorhynchus sp. XL-2014 (KM507363.1) was (0.025), and the highest genetic distance was recorded with Tenuisentis niloticus (MZ727194.1) was (0.194). Neighbor - Joining trees inferred for 18S rDNA showed that N. iraqensis as a separate clade in the trees, demonstrating that this species originated in Iraq. This finding indicates that the species is the same species that was morphologically identified and described for the first time in Iraq.

Molecular survey on the parasitic nematode Contracaecum spp. in fish (Planiliza abu) destined for human consumption

Contracaecum spp. is a parasitic nematode belonging to the Anisakidae family and which has a significant potential zoonotic effects on different hosts. Anisakiasis in humans is caused due to consumption of raw infected or undercooked seafood that contains nematode larvae. In this study, the prevalence of Contracaecum spp. nematodes in the fish, Planiliza abu, was determined over eight months from June 2022 to January 2023. The source of fish was Razzaza Lake, while the specimens of Planiliza abu were purchased from the local market, Karbala city, Iraq. The Contracaecum spp. nematodes were examined by morphological and molecular techniques.The total prevalence was 32%, as 133 of 416 fish were infected in the viscera by Contracaecum spp. third stage (L3) larvae. Molecular diagnosis of the COX-2 gene in Contracaecum spp. from P. abu was used to confirm the infection and to study their population biology. In the parasitology laboratory of the Veterinary Medicine College at Kerbala University, we confirmed the nematodes morphologically and molecularly as Contracaecum spp. The infection rates in September and November were greater than in October 2022. The results showed a significant positive correlation between the length of the fish and the number of nematodes per fish. This study detected the presence of Contracaecum spp. using analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase II (COX-2 gene). In conclusion, molecular genotyping might be an effective method for detecting the Contracaecum L3 larval species, determining the biology of the life-cycles, population structures, transmission methods, and intermediate hosts types.

Surface Ultrastructure and Molecular Studies of Clinostomum complanatum (Rudolphi, 1814) Braun, 1899 (Trematoda: Clinostomidae) Metacercariae in some Freshwater Fishes from Sulaimani Province, Iraq

Clinostomum is a trematode genus in the family Clinostomidae. The mentioned trematode species is parasitizing many fish species as intermediate hosts, while piscivorous birds and mammals are the main definitive hosts. Total of 58 metacercariae of Clinostomum larvae were dissected out from 25 infected fish specimens from eight different species from a number of water bodies of Sulaimani Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. In this investigation, 959 fish specimens were collected. These includes five cyprinid species: Capoeta trutta (Heckel), C. umbla (Heckel), Carasobarbus kosswigi (Ladiges), Cyprinion macrostomum Heckel and Garra rufa (Heckel), two leuciscid species: Alburnus sellal Heckel and Squalius lepidus Heckel and the mugilid fish Planiliza abu (Heckel). The prevalence of infection for each of these species was 1.8%, 5%, 20%, 1.5%, 1.7%, 4.9%, 4.9% and 1.3%, respectively. The morphology of the Clinostomum metacercariae was studied by using a compound microscope; their ultra-morphology was evaluated with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM); and the molecular analysis were performed by amplifying, sequencing and comparing the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and 28S rDNA gene loci from isolated Clinostomum metacercariae. The obtained sequences confirmed that all metacercariae of the Clinostomum, collected during the present study, represented with C. complanatum (Rudolphi, 1814) based on percent identity with sequences in the GenBank subject database. The molecular characterisations of the C. complanatum metacercariae in the present study were deposited in GenBank NCBI.

The Nature of the Composition of the Fish Community in One of the Drains of Al-Alam District – Salah Al-Din – Iraq

The study was conducted in one of the drain in AL-Ahd Al-Jaded - Al-Alam - Salah Al-Din Governorate for the period from the beginning of October 2022 to the end of March of the year 2023, where the number of fish species caught in the two study stations reached 15 species, of which 12 belong to the Cyprinidae family, one to the Poeciliidae family, and one to the. Al-Mugilidae family and a type of family Mastacembelidae. The types of fish that he collected (Chondrostoma regium, Carassius auratus, Carasobarbus luteus, Alburnus mossulensis, Cyprinion kais Planiliza abu, Arabibarbus grypus Cyprinus carpio Gambusia holbrooki, Acanthobrama marmid, mastacembelus, Barbus belayewi, Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi, Garra rufa). The Cyprinidae family is considered the largest percentage of species in water bodies in Iraq, according to previous studies. It was found that there were three species in most of the fishing samples that were collected during the study period for a period of six months: Chondrostoma regium, Carassius auratus, Carasobarbus luteus. The number of fish caught was 566 fish with a total weight of 19844 grams. The Chondrostoma regium came first with 257, or 45.40% of the total number, the Carassius auratus, with 172, or 30.38% of the total number, and the Carasobarbus luteus, with 53, or 9.76% of the total number. The arassius auratus accounted for the largest percentage in terms of weight at 48.23%, Chondrostoma regium ranked second at 20.94%, and the third rank by Carasobarbus luteus at 18.61%, and the lowest percentage by weight was the share of the Garra rufa by 0.05%.

Effect of Freezing On Some Morphometric Features of Planiliza Abu ( Hekel,1843)

The present study attempts to determine the effect of freezing for different periods on preserved bodies of fish in the laboratory to keep for the research and diagnosis of taxonomic studies and not for consumption. It also endeavors to identify the effect of freezing on some morphometric features of the preserved bodies of fishes. Planiliza abu fish were used to conduct the present study. Fish were frozen by regular freezing in the home refrigerator freezer with temperatures reaching four degrees centigrade below zero. Freezing time is distributed over four months; biometric measurements of frozen fish have been taken in these periods represented by body total length, Standard length, and Head length in centimeters using a ruler vernier caliper in addition to body weight in grams by using a scale. Statistical data analysis for this experiment has been conducted to investigate the resulting facts of freezing periods and the effect of differences in freezing periods on these biometric measurements using Duncan's new multiple range test and Levene's test. Results showed no apparent significant differences related to the size in total length and standard length and weight, While measuring head length showed important characteristics of frozen fish, especially in the first and third month of the experiment. Most of the sources that deal with such research patterns are concerned with the freezing of fish intended for food and human consumption, and few of these studies are concerned with research freezing, such as preserving frozen fish specimens for analysis, even for some time. Attention to the importance of freezing for research studies related to fish because of the susceptibility of its meat to rapid deterioration, and therefore, may give wrong diagnostic results if the survey is between species from the same family or a diagnostic and taxonomic study between many species belonging to different families. Keywords: Body measurements, Coastal fish, External appearance, Ice crystals, Preservation.

Haematological alterations of mullet Planiliza abu (Heckel, 1843) naturally infected by Ergasilus mosulensis Rahemo, 1982 (Copepoda: Ergaslidae) in a private fish farm from Basrah Province, Iraq

Generally, there is no previous information about haematological parameters of parasitized fish maintained in fish farms in Al- Mashab area, Basrah, Iraq. In this study, the effects of parasitism by the copepod Ergasilus mosulensis. on haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (HCT), red blood cells (RBCS), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and leucocytes were analysed in infected Planiliza abu. The high level of parasitism found in infected fishes was responsible for alterations in blood picture Hb, HCT, RBCS, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and leucocytes (P > 0.05). This is the first report regarding hematology of cultivated freshwater fish which are infected with parasitic copepods in Basrah Province.

The Impact of Hydrological Changes on Fish Assemblages in the Zachery Marshes of Southern Iraq

The present study was implemented in the Zachery Marsh as part of the middle marshes north of Bashar Province from January to December 2022 to investigate the impact of the seasons’ oscillation between drought and flooding on fish assemblage abundance, size spectrum, and ecological indices. Three stations were selected to collect samples of fish. The specimens were monthly gathered with different fishing tools, including fixed gillnets, cast nets, and electrofishing. The water temperature ranged from 12.32 to 34.03 °C, the salinity varied from 1.75 PSU to 2.89 PSU, and the pH fluctuated between 7.47 and 8.43. The rate of change in water depth in the low flat regions fluctuated from 27 cm in September to 76 cm in April. The mean water depth in rivers, small pits, and canals varied from 45 cm in October to the highest, 121 cm in March. In the seasonal regions, the average depth ranged from zero in July, August, September, and October to 40 cm in April. The current study documented 18 fish species belonging to 16 genera and 9 families from Zachery Marsh, all of them affiliated with the Osteichthyes class. Cyprinidae was the most abundant family, including six species. The species Planiliza abu, the most abundant species, formed 28.44%, Carassius gibelio constituted 20.27%, and Orechromis aureus represented 18.52%. The dominance index (D3) of the three dominant species was 67.23%. The size spectrum of the most commercial species was determined. The diversity index value ranged from 1.64 in August to 2.08 in June, the evenness index varied between 0.69 in May and 0.91 in December, and the richness index values fluctuated from 1.47 in August to 2.28 in June. Resident species represented 88.02%, seasonal species formed 6.08%, and the occasional fish species counted for 5.90%. The present study concludes that the fluctuation between drought and flooding has a critical role in the composition of fish assemblages, particularly in seasonal marshes that are subjected to extreme conditions. The fish evolve several reproductive strategies in these difficult conditions in order to survive and continue.

The influence of some ecological factors on fish diversity and abundance in Al-Huwyzah marsh / South of Iraq

From January to December 2019, the composition of fish assemblages in Al-Huwyzah marsh was studied in various ways based on the nature of their life-history strategies. In orders to assess the impact of hydrological variations on fish assemblage composition, diversity, and abundance. Water temperature fluctuated from 12°C in January to 33°C in July. Salinity varied from 1.38 g/l in March to 3.87 g/l in November. Hydrogen ion fluctuated from 7.37 in November to 8.18 in December. Monthly fluctuations in water depth were monitored for flat sections and low-lying areas of the marsh. Fish assemblages in Al-Huwyzah marsh were studied to determine the impact of hydrological and environmental changes on the pattern, abundance, diversity, and richness of fish assemblages. Fixed, drift, and cast gillnets were used to catch the fish. Nine thousand eight hundred fifty-three fish specimens belonging to 18 species, 17 genera, ten families, and six orders were caught from the three selected stations. All of which belonged to the Osteichthyes class. Ten fish species were native, and eight were exotic species. The Abu mullet Planiliza abu was the most abundant species comprising 35.74% of the total number of species, Prussian carp Carassius gibelio 19.74% of the total caught, and blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus 19.23%. The dominance index (D3) ratio is 74.71% of the upper abundance of three fish species in the present area. The equilibrium strategists that prefer stable habitats with a long time breeding season include abundant exotic species, and opportunistic strategists comprise one species of present fish assemblage. Keywords: Assemblage of fish; Huwyzah marsh; Hydrological variations

Bacterial analysis of Skin and Gill for Different Local Species of Fish

Fifty fish specimen belong to seven species; Acanthobrama marmid, Alburnus mossuleusis, Carasobarbus luteus, Cyprinus carpio, Garra elegans, G. rufa and Planiliza abu were examined. The fish samples collected from three sites on Tigris River in Baghdad City (Shawaka, ALkraiat and ALatefia) during the period from May to October 2015. Total bacteria count for each of the skin and gills ranged from 50 × to 245 × and 51 × to 250 × cells / g respectively. Ten bacterial genus was diagnosis by used selective identification media, there were Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Edwardsiella sp., Sallmonella spp., Serratia spp., Pseudomonas spp., Citrobacter spp., Klebsilla spp., Proteus spp. and vibrio spp. This study showed that the skin and gill can be colonized by different species of bacteria.

Investigation of fatty acid profiles in some economically important fish species living in Atatürk Dam Lake, Adıyaman, Türkiye

This study aims to deter-mine the fatty acid profile of 10 fish species (Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782), Chondrostoma regi-um (Heckel, 1843), Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758), Carassius auratus (Linnae-us, 1758), Alburnus sellal (Heckel, 1843), Planiliza abu (Heckel, 1843), Capoeta trutta (Heckel, 1843), Arabibarbus grypus (Heck-el, 1843), Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Banks & Solander 1794) ) caught from Atatürk Dam Lake, sold by fishermen and con-sumed by local people. Ac-cordingly, the fish species identification was made and the individuals belonging to the determined species were randomly selected and mus-cle tissue was taken from each sample for fatty acid analysis and put into tubes. Extraction of fats from muscle tissue was carried out using a chloroform-methanol solvent mixture. The methylation process of fatty acids was carried out using the TS EN ISO 12966:2 method. Analyzes were performed with Ther-mo brand Trace GC model GC with FID (Flame Ion De-tector) detector. A 60 m HP-88 column was used in the analysis. It has been deter-mined that 10 fish species contain a total of 26 differ-ent fatty acids. Palmitic acid is the major fatty acid among saturated fatty acids (SFA). Palmitic acid values vary between 18.31 % and 25.51 %. It was determined the most in C. carpio and the lowest in C. auratus. Among the mono unsaturat-ed fatty acids (MUFA), ole-ic acid is the major fatty ac-id and was found between 12.70 % and 29.77 %. It was detected at most in A. sellal with a rate of 29.77 % and in P. abu with a minimum rate of 12.70 %. Of the pol-yunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), docosahexaenoic acid is seen as the major fat-ty acid. It was detected at most in C. trutta with a rate of 14.24 %, and at a mini-mum in C. carpio with a rate of 0.62 %.

The status of Inland Fishery in Dhi Qar Province during the period from 2017 to 2020

An investigation was carried out to overview the status of the inland fishery resources in Dhi Qar Province during the period from 2017 to 2020. The whole fish landed from five marshes throughout the study period was about 30833 tons using seine net, gill net, cast net and electro-fishing gears. The highest annual quantity landed was about 8502 tons in 2020 which formed about 27.6 % of total fish landed. In fact, this variation in fish stock from year to year could be related to overfishing, weather changes, pollution levels, water levels, market prices and environmental conditions (natural or human-made). This study also indicated that the majority of fish landed came from capture fisheries and the rest from fish farming. Eleven fish species were observed and Cyprinus carpio was dominant with 37 % of the total weight landed followed by Planiliza abu which comprised about 25% of the total. Six native species, two alien species and two migratory species were also found throughout this investigation which composed about 41.3 %, 56.5 % and 2.2 % of the total, respectively.

New hosts records for some fish parasites from Al-Dalmaj marsh/Iraq

The current study conducted in Al-Dalmaj marsh, (180 km south of Baghdad and northeastern part of Al-Diwaniyah province) from November 2021 - May 2022. A total of 345 fish specimens were collected and examined , the collected fish were belonging to three families, including Cichlidae ,Mugilidaeand Cyprinidae family, were including Cyprinus carpio, Coptodon zillii and Planiliza abu, (120, 100 and 125 specimens respectively). Fish bodies were examined, to detect internal and external parasites, examined fish were found to be infected with 29 species of parasites, included four species of Ciliphora .twenty species of Monogenia, one species of Cestoda, two species of Acanthocephala and two species of crustacean. The Cyprinus carpio fish was highly infection rate ( 37.5%) and its infected with 4 new species of parasites, followed by Planiliza abu ,which 42.4% and 4 new species ,while Coptodon zillii was lowest infection rate( 43%) and it was infected with 3 new species of parasites. Cyprinus carpio, Coptodon zillii and Planiliza abu, were condected as new hosts of 11 species of parasites for the first time in Iraq, Nine species of Monogenia ,One species of Cestoda and One species of Ciliphora.

Diagnosis of intestinal protozoa in three species of Tigris river in Tikrit city and the extent of fishermen injury with Cryptosporidium

The current study was completedduring the period from September 2016 until the end ofAugust 2017, to investigate the intestinalprimitives infective of three species offishcaught from the waters ofthe TigrisRiverpassing through the city of Tikrit.Some 913 fish were surveyedthree types of fishtradedinthe local market of Tikrit (including 468 fishes of Cyprinus carpio, 238 fishes ofSliurustriostegus and 207 fishes of Planiliza abu).Andtodetermine the incidence andseverity of the infection of thesepredisposed primary animals. The intestines were examinedtodetectintestinalparasites, showinjury of some of these fish with 7 types of intestinal parasites. The parasites diagnosed included five types of primary animals (including one species of Kinetoplastida is Cryptobia iubilans one type of sporozoa was also recorded inCryptosporidium).

EFFECT OF FREEZING PRESERVATION PERIOD ON SOME SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE IRAQI LOCAL FISH SPECIES

The current study was conducted to determine the ideal period for freezing of three fish species of in the Iraqi local markets which are common carp Cyprinus carpio ,catfish Silurus triostegus and mullet Planiliza abu through sensory evaluation and the effect of freezing time on the flavor, juiciness and general acceptability of fish .A total of20 samples, were taken for each species of fresh local fish and were frozen at 18°C for different freezing periods : 1 day (T2), 15 days (T3), 30 days (T4) and 45 days (T5) , in addition to the fresh treatment T1 that has not been subjected to freezing. Results of common carp showed that the best freezing time was recorded for treatments T2, T3 and T4 which attained 6.8, 6.6 and 6.2, respectively, for the flavor. The treatment T2, T3 and T4 were recorded 6.4, 6.8 and 6.6 respectively, for tenderness .The treatments T2, T3 and T4 were amounted 7.4, 6.6 and 6.6 respectively, for the Juiciness. Results of the general acceptance of treatments T2, T3 and T4 were 7.6, 7.2, 6.6 respectively. Results of the catfish and the mullet for flavor showed that the best freezing period was for the two treatments T2 and T3, which were 7.4, 6.4 in the catfish and 6.6 and 5.4 in the mullet respectively. T2 and T3 continued to be significantly superior to the freshness of the catfish and the mullet over T4 and T5 and it was 7.0, 6.4 for the catfish and 5.8, 5.6 for the mullet, respectively. T2 and T3 were superior for the juiciness of catfish by 7.0 and 6.6 and for mullet, 5.8 and 5.6 respectively. As for the trait of general acceptance, it was superior in the two treatments T2 and T3 for catfish and mullet and they were 7.4, 6.8 for catfish 6.8 and 6.4 for mullet respectively.

Application of GIS technique in the studies on fish assemblages in Shatt Al-Arab River, Basrah, Iraq

The present study has examined the spatiotemporal varieties of the demographics of the Shatt Al-Arab River fishes and their relation to some ecological components. The aim is to forecast these groups in the unexplored parts of the waterway with an emphasis on environmental indices of diversity. Three sites in the river were selected as an observation and study of these species, which lasted from March 2019 to February 2020, the study dealt with factors affecting fishes, as Water Temperature (WT), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Potential Hydrogen Ion (pH), Salinity (Sal), and Transparency (Tra). Gill nets, cast nets, hooks, and hand nets were adopted to collecting fish. The results indicated that the fish population comprises 60 species representing 13 orders, 28 families, all species belonged to Osteichthyes except for one (Carcharhinus leucas) which belonged to Chondrichthyes. Cyprinidae is the prevalent family embraced by nine species. WT (12.1- 33.4°C) has a considerable influence on the total number of species and individuals to the north of the watercourse. However, salinity (0.9- 8.7 mg/L) was regarded as the essential impact on the composition, distribution, and abundance of species in the rest sites. Planiliza abu was the most abundant species attaining 20.21%, followed by Oreochromis aureus (16.41%), and Carassius auratus ranked (15.92%), the dominance (D3) value was 52.54%. The results of the current study showed that most of the diversity index values are considered a moderate status. On the other hand, the majority of the richness index values are viewed as semi disturbed status in all stations, while most of the values recorded of the evenness index are deemed as semi-balanced status. The application of GIS technique by using the ordinary kriging method showed high efficiency in the Shatt Al-Arab River. Therefore, this technique can be employed in environmental studies of fishes.