Marsh Bulletin

Entirely 21 fish species were collected in East Hammar Marsh (EHM), the highest number 19 was recorded in Al Sadda and the lowest 14 in both Qarmat Ali and Al-Burkha stations. The highest relative abundance value occupied by three exotic species, first Coptodon zillii 19.3%, second by Oreochromis aureus17.6% and third rank was Oerochromis niloticus13.1%. The highest diversity recorded in EHM was 2.29 during November 2023 and the lowest was 1.85 in March 2024. Evenness varies between 0.7 and 0.55 in July 2024 and May 2024 respectively. Richness reaches the maximum 2.15 in November 2024 and lowest 1.3 in March 2024.Yearly grade of BII in EHM 79.42. Jaccard species similarity index scored the highest 69.98% between Qarmat Ali & Al Mansouri stations and the lowest 41.02% Between Qarmat Ali & Al Burkha stations. Sorensen similarity index indicated higher values 80.5 % between Qarmat Ali & Al Mansouri stations and the lowest 64.0% Between Qarmat Ali & Al Burkha stations. Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index reveal that the highest value 37.5 % between Al Mansouri & Al Burkha and the lowest 19.5 % Between Qarmat Ali & Al Mansouri stations. Strong opposite relationship existed between Shannon diversity index, Pielou evenness index, and BII in EHM. Fluctuation in water temperature and salinity effect BII values indirectly. Native fish species ratio showed negative relationship with BII. Generally, there is a slight improvement in BII level at EHM in comparison with that of 2018 and 2020.

This study was conducted monthly in the Al-Qurna district, north of Basra, from October 2023 to July 2024. The purpose was to conduct an environmental survey of the ground plants Suadae aegyptiaca, Alhagi agracorum, Tamarix aucherina, and Cressa cretica in Basra Governorate. Three stations were selected for the study: Nahr al-Ezz Station, Al-Khas area, and Shallah Beit Akab area, located 75 km from the center of Basra. The morphological characteristics of the above-mentioned plants, the environmental factors affecting them, and the quantitative characteristics of these plants were studied. The plant species associated with these plants were also recorded, and the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil and plants were studied, including air temperature, air humidity, soil moisture, pH, salinity, and plant organic matter.
In this study, there are variations in air temperature, with the highest recorded being 45°C at Nahr Al-Ezz station in the summer and the lowest being 10.5°C at the same station and in the winter. The highest air humidity was recorded at 71.5% and 71% in the cold seasons at the first and second stations, and the lowest at 4.1% at the third station (Shalhat Beit Akab) in the hot seasons. As for soil moisture, the highest recorded was 53.84% in the winter at the first station, and the lowest was 12.86% in the summer at the third station. The highest pH value was recorded at 7.60 at the first station in the autumn, and 7.00 at the second station in the winter. As for salinity, the highest concentration was recorded at 3.999 mg/L in the summer at the third station, and the lowest was 1.25 mg/L in the summer at the same station. The organic matter (soil organic carbon) reached the highest rate of 0.332 0.14 g/1 g of soil was recorded at the second station in the fall, and the lowest was 0.14 g/1 g at the third station for the same season. As for the organic matter in the plant, the highest rate was recorded at 0.9 g/1 g at the second station in the summer, and the lowest was 0.18 g/1 g at the first station in the fall.