Recording thirteen new species of phytoplankton in euphrates river environment in Iraq

Abstract

Thirteen species phytoplankton were recorded for the first time in the Upper Euphrates River environment in Iraq during the period from January to June 2017. Five locations were selected along the river (Jubba village, Al-Baghdadi district, Dollab village, Hit city and Ramadi city). Among the 13 taxa, seven species belonged to Chlorophyta division were identified included Excentrosphaera viridis, Monoraphidium caribeum, Nephrochlamys willeana, Oonephris palustris, Staurodesmus cuspidatus, Palmodictyon varium, and Westellopsis linearis. Moreover, two species of Chrysohyta division, Rhizochrysis limnetica and Chrysidiastrum catenatum recorded in the study area. Two species belonged to Bacillariophyta division were Acanthoceras zachariasii and Stenopterobia intermedia, showed in the study area. One species belongs to Cyanophyta division, Stichosiphon sansibaricus was recorded in Hit and Ramadi, and one species of Euglenophyta (Phacus orbicularis) was recorded. Some physicochemical properties of water from these locations were measured included water temperature values ranged 8-13 °C; pH ranged 7.22-7.58, EC ranged 580-755 µS.cm-1 while Salinity 0.30-0.44 g.L-1. Nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate values ranged 156-232 µg.L-1 and 8.21-21 µg.L-1, respectively. The presence of new phytoplankton in Iraqi freshwater confirms the quality of river water in this area. This study was carried out to contribute to the knowledge of freshwater phytoplankton in Iraq for the upper region of Euphrates River and their tributaries.