VEGETATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OF THE SOUTHERN MARSHES OF IRAQ DURING FEBRUARY, 2008JIHAD M. AL-ZEWAR, HAIDAR SH. DARWISH1 AND TAHA Y. AL-EDANYAbstract Water, sediments and aquatic macrophytes were collected from 13 fixed stations in February, 2008: two stations at Hor Al-Hammar, two at Hor Al-Chibayish, eight at Hor Al-Huawiza and one near Al-Sindebad Island at the junction of the Tigris and the Euphrates. Physical and chemical properties of water and sediments were studied as well as the concentrations of nutrients, which were variable in the different sites. Biodiversity was also investigated. A number of plant species collected there, was lower than that recorded by other authors due to the time of collection. Cover percent of each species was recorded in addition to biomasses which were also lower than those recorded formerly. Biomass of the emergent plants was the highest among other aquatic plants. |