Assessment of Phytoplankton Diversity in Al-Diwaniya River, Iraq

Background and Aim: The present study was conducted to determine the biodiversity of the phytoplankton community in Al-Diwaniya River.

Place and Duration of Study: Al-Diwaniya River in Al-Qadisiyah Province at three stations (station 1 is located to the north of the city, station 2 is located in the city center and station 3 is located south of the city) during four season of 2015.

Methodology: The evaluation included biological aspects using qualitative and quantitative studies of phytoplankton, Species Richness index D, Shannon – Weiner index H, Species uniformity index E.

Statistical Analysis: A comparison of phytoplankton community in two level 30 cm and 60 cm from the three stations was investigated.

Results: Current study recorded total number of phytoplankton in depth 30 cm and 60 cm ranged from 2244.5 to 15104.7 cell x 103 L-1 and 965.7 to 5610.4 cell x 103 L-1 respectively. Also, two peaks of bloom, the first in spring and the other in autumn, it was founded that the total density in depth 30 cm was higher than its in 60 cm. Species Richness index values ranged from 6.22 - 16.61; 5.81 -10.64, More than the values of Shannon Weiner index ranged from 1.51-3.75; 2.35 -3.39 bit Ind.-1, while Evenness index mean values were 0.47 - 0.95; 0.7 - 0.96 for phytoplankton communities in depth 30 cm and 60 cm respectively.

Conclusion: Biodiversity indicator showed moderate pollution and good diversity of Al-Diwaniya River at the station 2, while a poor diversity and contaminated at the station 3 due to expose to environmental stresses from of industrial, residential waste and wastewater effect.