Studies on the limmnology of the three branches of Shatt Al -Arab River at Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

Water samples from the Salihyia, Chibasi and the Shatt al-Basrah Rivers were col- lected during Spring (1980). The main Umnological characters of the three rivers were investigated. A comparison between the three rivers and the Shatt al-Arab River was made. The study showed a great similarity between the Salihyia, Chibasi and the Shatt al-Arab Rivers both in the dissolved oxygen content and in nutrient levels. In general, the Shatt al-Basrah River resembles the Shatt al-Arab River in its main Umnological characters. However, the former differs in being tnore saline due to its passage through arid, salty land. Transparency was higher in the Shatt al-Basrah River than the other studied rivers due to its poverty aquatic plants.