Zeitschrift für Ökosystem und Ökologie

Abstrakt

Seasonal Variations of Zooplankton in Al-Hammar Marsh-Southern Iraq

Shaker G Ajeel, Ali AZ Douabul and Mohammad F Abbas

Zooplankton samples were collected seasonally from three stations in the south of Al-Hammar Marshes southern Iraq by Plankton net (0.090 mm mesh-size and 40 cm mouth aperture) during 2011. Physical and chemical parameters of the water were studied such as, water temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen. The population density of zooplankton ranged between 717 ind /m3 at third station (Al-Sallal) in winter to 1209879 ind/m3 at first station (Al-Mashab) in Spring. The important groups of zooplankton in the study area were Cirriped larvae (88.5%), and Cladocera (10.6%). The highest value of average density of Cirriped larvae and Cladocera was recorded in spring.