Mesopotamian Journal of Marine Science

The present study deals with sedimentological and paleontological aspects of the tidal flats recent sediments of Khor Al-Zubair and Khor Abdullah. The sediments of these tidal flats are mainly composed of silt and mud. Carbonate content was 7.83 – 26.58 % and 23.38 - 45.54 % in the sediments of the tidal flats of Khor Al-Zubair and Khor Abdullah, respectively and the percentage of organic carbon was 0.025-0.9 % in the sediments of Khor Al-Zubair tidal flats while the percentage in Khor Abdullah tidal flats sediments was 0.44-0.87 %. The main constituents of non –clay minerals were calcite, quartz and feldspar in the two tidal flats. Foraminifera, Ostracoda, Gastropoda and Pelecypoda were identified to determine the biofacies of these tidal flats. Four biofacies were identified in the sediments of Khor Al-Zubair tidal flats; BZ1 is a marine environment facies with estuarine condition, BZ2 is a mangrove swamp environment, BZ3 is a lagoonal environment of high salinity, and BZ4 is a brackish – marine environment. The biofacies of Khor Abdullah tidal flat sediments were BA1 and BA2 of marine and nearly marine environments, respectively, whereas, the biofacies of Khor Abdullah channel were BC1 and BC2 which represent the ends of delta and the biofacies BC3 and BC4 show a lagoonal environment.

Two species of digenetic trematodes viz (Eucotyle sp. and Orchipedum jolliei) were infect the mallard duck Anas platyrhynchos in Al-Hammar marshes. The present finding of these two parasites is the first recored in the Iraqi aquatic birds.

The seasonal variations of hydrocarbons in molluscs of Shatt Al-Arab river have been studied. These species of molluscs were the snails, Lymnaea auricularia, Theodoxus jordani, Physa acuta, Melanopsis nodosa and Melanoides tuberculata while the bivalves were Corbicula fluminea and Corbicula fluminalis. The molluscs were collected from different locations of Shatt Al-Arab river (along the region extended from Abu Al-Khasib to Garmat-Ali) during 2004 and 2005. Each species consisted of at least 3500 adults and uniform size of individuals. The hydrocarbons were extracted and analyzed by spectroflurometer. The concentrations of total hydrocarbons referred to (Basrah regular crude oil equivalents) in different molluscs species varied from 1.93 μg/g dry weight in the T. jordani to 9.83 μg/g dry weight in the C. fluminea during Summer and from 2.90 μg/g dry weight to 22.37 μg/g dry weight during Autumn. While ranges from 3.58 μg/g dry weight to 26.56 μg/g dry weight and from 2.60 μg/g dry weight to 14.13 μg/g dry weight during winter and spring. This study confirmed higher concentrations of hydrocarbons in the mollusc’s species during winter and autumn while lower concentrations were measured during summer and spring. This is due to several factors which could act to produce such seasonal variations.

Hydrographical survey were carried out for four cruises during the period 22 March to 9 May, 2007 by Marine Science Center team in the Iraqi marine water. By using the prediction method of Karsten , the breaker wave height root mean square Hrms was computed as a function of water depth and the breaker wave energy was computed as a function of Hrms in Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) for 45 points at the Iraqi coastline in the north of the Arabian Gulf. The results showed that the gradient of Iraqi coast at the study area was flat and the predominant type of breaker waves was spilling.The highest value of the energy of these waves was 1214,258992 J/m2 at point no. 45. The highest breaker wave height root mean square Hrms was 0.981 m at the same point.

Specimens of the land snail Xeropicta mesopotamica were collected from Hareer region, southern marshes of Iraq (30°34'43.52"N 47°44'3.93"E), north of Basrah on December 2007 and March 2008. It is widely distributed in Iraq. The present article represents the first record of the species from Basrah, Iraq.

The levels of petroleum hydrocarbons and trace elements were determined in the water and sediment samples from different locations in the marshland of southern Iraq. The Mean concentrations of TPH in the waters ranged from 0.012 µg/l at Al-Barkha to 0.037 µg/l at Al-Baghdadia 1, while in the sediment samples the mean values ranged from 0.030 ug/g at Um-Alneach to 0.96 µg/g dry weight at Al-Baghdadia 2. Distribution of trace elements in water and in sediment showed variations in concentration with sampling site. The mean values of the elements in the water were : 1.13-3.68 for Co, 0.16-1.37 for Mn, 0.66-2.37 for Ni, 0.28-1.51 for Fe and 0.10-0.28 mg/l for Cu, while in sediments the mean range were: 39.25-88.0 for Co, 408.6-506.3 for Mn, 52.2-90.3 for Ni, 6923-9910 for Fe and 16.36-38.30 µg/g dry weight for Cu. Grain size analysis and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) also determined in these samples. All the levels of both hydrocarbons and trace elements in the water and sediment samples were low, indicating minimum pollution in these areas. Concetrations of these pollutants could be due to natural and anthropogenic sources. These concentrations are within the range values reported for other comparable regions.

The present study involves the determination of total proteins in the green alga Cladophora crispata, isolation and identification of amino acids. The alga was isolated from Al-Ashar canal in Basrah. The results indicated that the isolated alga was capable of growing on Ch-10 medium, the highest constant of growth K = 1.3, and the lower time of reproducing a generation G = 0.23. The total protein content in C. crispata was 40.3 %. The proteins extract in algae show a shoulder at wave length 230 nm by absorption (2.9). Concerning amino acids examined by using the thin layer chromatography method (TLC), it was noticed that the alga contains the amino acids Aspartic, Phenylalanine and Tryptophan.

Infected patient's sera by epidemic and non-epidemic cholera Ogawa, Inaba, and NAGs and other from healthy persons were used to determine the optimum antigen concentrations and different dilutions of conjugate and serum under study. The optimum concentration of Ogawa antigen was 5 μg/ml with serum and conjugate dilution was 1:50 and 1:100 respectively, for Inaba antigen was 10 μg/ml with serum and conjugate dilution 1:50 and 1:100 respectively, while for NAGs, the optimum antigen concentration was 10 μg/ml with serum and conjugate dilution was 1:50 and 1:100 respectively. The highest antibodies concentration were recorded in person infected by Ogawa then Inaba and NAGs infection had less antibody concentration 1.97 , 1.72 and 1.55 respectively (value estimated by optical density 492 nm). The results of healthy person non infected by epidemic Ogawa, Inaba nor non-epidemic NAGs which reached about 0.4, 0.39 and 0.36 respectively. The present study show high sensitivity and specificity rate were 95 % and 90 % respectively. Hence the present study recommends depending ELISA test for diagnose and screening infected and non-infected population by epidemic Ogawa, Inaba or non-agglutinable (NAGs).

Two exotic cichlids fish Oreochromis aureus and Tilapia zilli were recorded for the first time in the south of Iraq. Fish samples were collected from the main outfall drain (Al-Dabab area) in Basrah city by fixed gill net during the period from June to August 2009. Total length ranged from 100-120 mm of O. auraus and ranged from 105-160 mm of T. zilli. Fish were identified depending on the meristic and morphometric characters. Body depth ranged from 44.7-50.07 % of standard length in O. auraus and 42.8-47.46 % in T. zilli, number of scales in the lateral line ranged from 30-31 in O. auraus and 30-33 in T. zilli, gill rakers were 22 in O. aureus and 13 in T. zilli, lower jaw have 3-4 rows of teeth in O. auraus and 5-6 rows in T. zilli.