Marsh Bulletin

Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri is an oligochaete belongs to the Tubificidae family, inhabiting fresh
water. It is a common benthic species in the Shatt al-Arab. Samples were collected from twice a
month from Shatt Al-Arab River near the confluence of the Ribat River for the period during the
period September 2012 to August 2013. The collection was carried out using a cylindrical core
with an area of 78.5cm². The weight of adult L. hoffmeisteri that carry eggs ranged from 0.140 to
0.439 mg. Maximum length of the species (13.03 mm), dry weight (0.577 mg,) and biomass
(2.944 g / m²) were recorded. Annual yield of the biomass (11.801 g / m²), instantaneous growth
rate (0.107 g / m² / year) and productivity (0.1592 g / m² / year)were calculated. The species was
reared in the laboratory under three different temperature and three different diets. Feeding on
oats resulted in higher growth rate while salary lead to earlier maturation.

In the present study concentrations of some heavy metals calculated in three tissues (Liver,
gills, and muscles) of Al-Zubaidi fish (Pampus argenteus), which date back to the family
Stromateidae, that collected from Iraqi marine coasts, during December 2014 to March
2015.The concentrations of the studied heavy metals (Cobalt, Iron, Nickel, Manganese,
Copper, and Cadmium) measured by Flame Atomic Spectrophotometer), and results showed
that their highest concentrations were in the liver (16.71, 98.9, 88.13, 10.99, 30.22,and
12.69)µg/g respectively, while the lowest concentrations appear in white muscles (1.16, 5.2,
2.87, 40.68, 3.69, 55.23) µg/g. In the studied period, concentrations of the heavy metals were
higher in liver than that in the muscles and gills. The order of seasonal concentration of heavy
metals in the muscles were Summer> Spring> Autumn> Winter.

The distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) were studied in three station of East
Hammar marsh during October 2015 to September 2016. Five species belongs to three families
were existed in the whole study period. Monthly sampling was conducted for vegetation cover,
biomass, physical and chemical characteristics of water and soil in each station. CANOCO
ordination program (CCA) was used to analyze the data statically. There is negative
relationship between Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllun Spicatum and the depth, salinity.
It also shows the negative relationship between Potamogeton and turbidity. Decreasing in the
abundance of SAV was largely occurred in contrast with historical data. Species richness and
abundance at all stations were analyzed for the same period using biodiversity indices. There
were differences in species richness among stations. It can be concluded that decreasing of
abundance and distribution of SAV due to increasing of salinity and nutrient in addition to
human impact.

The present study described fish assemblages in Khor Al-Zubair lagoon North West
Arabian Gulf using various fish nets, A total of 40 species belong to 29 families and 11
orders were recorded.It was found that order of Perciform dominated the ichthyofauna
of Khor Al-Zubair lagoon, which represented by 14 families and 21 species. The
percentage of very rare species of total number was 12.5%, including five species:
Chiloscyllium arabicum, Mastacembelus mastacembelus, Otolithes ruber, Pampus
argentetus and Strongylura strongylura, in this study, we used the similarty analysis
between previous studies (Ali,1985 (study 1); Hussein and Namma,1980 (study 2) and
current study (study 4),and the high similarity (58.62%) was found between study 1 and
study 2 .

Seventeen sample of sediment were collected from Iraqi coast in Khor Al-Zubair tidal flats during
September 2015. Examination of these samples revealed the occurrence of three foraminiferal species,
which were Discorinopsis aguayoi, D. vadescens and D. tropica. These foraminifera (except D. tropica)
were recorded for the first time in the Iraq. The percentages of all these species, characteristic features
of the tests and sediment texture were also recorded here