Phytoplankton Index of Biological Integrity (P-IBI) in Several Marshes, Southern IRAQ

Abstract

Indices of Biological Integrity (IBIs) are being increasingly used as useful and direct tools for assessing general health of aquatic ecosystems. Although such ecosystems in Iraq, especially the southern marshes, underwent severe alterations during the last two decades, including extensive desiccation in the 1990s, such tools are largely lacking. Phytoplankton Index of Biological Integrity (P-IBI) was developed from data collected seasonally from 2005 up to 2007 in different sites of the southern marshes of Iraq to evaluate the trend of these ecosystems based on phytoplankton data. Ten metrics were selected for measuring P-IBI for the first time in Iraq as a proposed project from Nature Iraq and Twin Rivers Institute, American University of Iraq-Sulaimani. Although generally fluctuated both spatially and temporally, mean P-IBI scores showed better conditions in Al Hawizeh marsh (Good) as compared to the Central and West & East Al Hammar marshes (Fair to Good). However, the results generally indicated evidence of improvement at the Central and West & East Al Hammar marshes, whereas no recovery of the status of water was evident throughout the data obtained at Al Hawizeh marsh. Values were generally higher in winter. These observations clearly reflect the relative stability of the Hawizeh marsh ecosystem which was not subject to the desiccation process in the 1990s, while the severely dried systems of the Central and Hammar marshes are showing positive responses to the restoration efforts that were started after 2003. Among the ten metrics comprising the index, relative abundance of diatoms had the most prominent effect on the P-IBI value in the three marshes. Metrics such as chlorophyll- a concentration and relative abundance of Cyanophyta and Chlorophyta also played a significant role in determining the index value. Continuous monitoring based on the selection of the most suitable metrics is recommended

Using of Index Biological Integrity of Phytoplankton (P-IBI) in the Assessment of Water Quality in Don River Section

“…Metric raw data were converted into metric scores after being submitted to a scale of thresholds of 3, 5 and 10 (25) (Table 2). The development of these thresholds was carried out according to (17,26,27) based on the historical data and professional judgment as recommended in EPA (29). Threshold of high score 10 was given for metrics that have values equal or near to reference condition, 5 was given to those of medium or moderate conditions, while 3 was-given to those of worst or unhealthy conditions.…”

“…Final index scores were grouped into four rating categories of "Excellent", "Good", "Fair", "Poor" and "Very Poor" as in Table 3 (29,30). A value of rating categories close to 82 indicates that streams biology is healthy and equivalent to what would be found in a natural system condition, a value close to 56 reflect a poor biological status within the aquatic ecosystem.…”

“…A value of rating categories close to 82 indicates that streams biology is healthy and equivalent to what would be found in a natural system condition, a value close to 56 reflect a poor biological status within the aquatic ecosystem. Table 3 illustrates the cutoff values for the final P-IBI scores and qualitative interpretation (29,30).…”

Non-Diatomic Diversity and Community Structure in Hoor-Al- Azime Marshes, Iran

“…Despite huge ecological importance, they are poorly known in Hoor-Al-Azim. However, few studies have been documented in Iraqi section of this wetland Al-Hawizeh [15,16,17,18,19]. However, few studies have been documented in Iraqi section of this wetland Al-Hawizeh [15,16,17,18,19] they explained the ecological importance of diatom and non-diatom phytoplankton community and studied their taxonomy and some ecological indices using species biomass and diversity for assessment ecosystem status.…”

“…However, few studies have been documented in Iraqi section of this wetland Al-Hawizeh [15,16,17,18,19]. However, few studies have been documented in Iraqi section of this wetland Al-Hawizeh [15,16,17,18,19] they explained the ecological importance of diatom and non-diatom phytoplankton community and studied their taxonomy and some ecological indices using species biomass and diversity for assessment ecosystem status. There are several extensive studies in Hoor Al-Azim take in ecological conditions such as pollution and water quality [20,21,22,23], as well as species composition of insects , birds and some near threatened species such as otter [24], in contrast the phytoplankton community did not receive attention from researchers, until the present study focused on non-diatomic phytoplankton community .…”