Marsh Bulletin

Loss of genetic diversity decreases the population or species will or may affect the ability of
a population being in a new environment affect or cause disease. Estimation of genetic diversity
in fish farms will play an essential role in managing it properly. Therefore, this study aimed
to estimate the genetic variation between the three population of rainbow trout including
Iranian, French, and Danish using mitochondrial DNA COX1 and Cytb genes were performed.
Ninety samples from three populations salmon farms in the area of Kalat Naderi city of
Mashhad collected. DNA was extracted and COX1 and Cytb gene were amplified by PCR and
then sequenced. The results showed a low level of genetic variation within studied populations.
Phylogenic and haplotype analysis revealed that the genetic distance between Iranian trout
population and French was much lower than Danish. This finding might indicate that the
Iranian population might have the similar gene pool with and originated from the French
population.

The concentrations of PAH compounds at northern part of Shatt al-Arab River were evaluated quarterly, Water samples were collected from five stations (Al-Qurnah, Al-Sharish, Al-Shafi, Al-Daier and Al-Hartha). The PAH compounds were analytically determined with Gas Chromatography (GC). The highest concentration of PAH compounds in water was (31.254 ng/L) during winter and the lowest concentration was (3.62 ng/L) during summer. Some physicochemical parameters of water samples were also determined such as temperature, salinity and chlorophyll (a). The concentrations of PAH compounds in water samples revealed a slight level of contamination in the study area. Hence, there is a need for adequate regulation and control of all activities that contribute to increasing levels of hydrocarbons in the aquatic environment for the safety of the population, aquatic and wild lives in the area.

The Mesopotamian marshlands are one of the most internationally important wetlands in the Middle East, as it constitutes a care ground for many species of birds migrating from Siberia and Europe as well as for its rich biodiversity. East Al-Hammar is a major marsh located in the southern part of Iraq. The relationship between diatom species and environmental variables in the east Hammar marsh was studied during the period from August 2018 to April 2019 in three stations. A total of 69 taxa of diatoms belonging to 34 genera were identified. Diatom assemblages in east Hammar marsh included brackish water forms 30%, marine-brackish water forms 21%, fresh species 16%, and marine water forms 10% the rest 23% were variable uncertain ecological preference from fresh to marine. The results of canonical corresponds analysis (CCA) showed several important groups of diatom species were obtained by this analysis, the first group of diatom species include marine- brackish forms where have positive correlations with air and water temperature, EC and salinity, while the second group has positive relationship with hydrogen ion and alkalinity, diatom species in the third group have a positive correlation with transparency and dissolved oxygen. The fourth group has a positive relationship with turbidity. Finally, CCA analysis shows five groups of diatom species have a positive correlation with the nutrient and that can use as a bioindicator for water pollution.

Thirty-three fungal species were isolated from sixteen soil samples collected from several agricultural areas in Dhi-Qar governorate and tested for their enzymatic activity to five enzymes (cellulase, laccase, lipase, lignase and amylase). This study showed a good activity for the isolated fungi and all studied fungi showed enzymatic activity, 27 fungi were showed a good activity to produce lignase enzyme, 25 fungi were able to produced lipase, 18 fungi produced cellulase, 17 fungi produced amylase and five fungi were able to produce laccase enzyme.

The Organic Pollution Index (OPI) was applied for descriptive and quantitative assessment of
the levels of organic contamination at six stations selected at Al-Chibayish marsh monthly during
the period Augst, 2018 to July, 2019. Selected a set of physical and chemical variables affecting
the organic pollution index (NO2, NH4, BOD5 and PO4). Results showed that the values of the
pollution index ranged from 3.8 to 4.5 during the studied period. Generally, the value of OPI was
(4.2) for Al-Chibayish marsh, which is classified as the second category (weak). Principal
Component Analysis (PCA) showed that the most controlling factors in the organic pollution index
were nitrite and ammonium ion followed by biological oxygen demand and active phosphate.
Keywords: Al-Chibayish marshes, Water Pollution, OPI.

On the survey of the parasitic protozoa of Iraqi marine fishes, five fish species (Sillago
sihama; Liza subviridus; Saurida undosquamus; Synaptura orentals and Trypauchen
vagina) were collected and examined. One of 82 Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and
Schneider, 1801) Goobiidae (1.219%) fish was being found naturally infected with
Microsporidian cysts, as a mass embedded in the Internal and external skeletal muscles
and gill, the logical explanation for this situation is the high intensity of infection, the
infection noted during the winter season and appeared as whitish cylinders’ cyst tumorlike masses up to 2-4 cm in diameter, spores were elongated and measured (1.5–1.9
μm) × (1.2-2.0μm). Fish was suffering a pathologic observation, extensive damage
tissue, including epithelial necrosis, encapsulation, and the presence of spores encysted
and adult in skeletal muscles of fishes causing lesions including mild hyperplasia of
fibrous connective tissue around the parasite. The current study targeted the protozoan
parasites in the Iraqi marine waters for several reasons, including a lack of sufficient
information in the region is available for this type of parasites

Water samples and four species of molluscs(Theodoxus Jordani, Melanoides tuberculate
Melanopsis nodosa, Bellamya bengalensis ) were collected seasonally from three stations at
Al-Quarna in Shatt Al Arab river during the low tide period from September 2018 to March
2019 to determine the regional and seasonal variations of total Petroleum hydrocarbons using
a spectrofluorometer. Physical and chemical parameters were measured, such as water
temperature range from (13°C to 39°C), Dissolved oxygen range from (6.5 mg/l to 3.84
mg/l),pH range from (8.15-7.17), and Electrical conductivity (2.59 ms/cm- 4.75 ms/cm). The
concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons ( TPHs) in water range from (0.33µg/l)in
summer at Station 3 to (2.89 µg/l ) in winter at Station 2, while TPHs in molluscs range from
0.55μg/g dry weight in the T. jordani in station 3 during summer to 8.93μg/g dry weight in the
B. bengalensis during winter .The highest TPHs in the four species were arranged as
fellow:Bellamya bengalensis ˃ Melanopsis nodosa ˃ Melanoides tuberculate ˃ Theodoxus
Jordani. When we compare the concentration of TPHs in water and molluscs with other studies,
it allies within these concentrations.