STUDY OF EPIPHYTIC ALGAE ON Ceratophyllum demersum L. FROM TWO STATIONS AT SHATT AL-ARAB RIVER

      This study is carried out on the epiphytic algae on Ceratophyllum demersum L. that collected from two             different stations at Shatt al-Arab River to investigate the variations in quantity and quality of the epiphyticalgae according to location of aquatic plant. A total of 80 taxa of epiphytic algae were identified at two studied areas; diatoms were the dominant(57taxa) followed by Cyanobacteria (12 taxa) and Chlorophyta (11 taxa). There were variations in the total algal species at two studied stations. Most of the identified algae wereoriginally benthic but some were planktonic such as (Cyclotella spp.; Coscinodiscus sp.; Stephanodiscussp.; Bacillaria paxillifer and Scenedesmus spp.). Six species appeared during the study period; which may be due to their wide range in temperaturetolerance. Higher value of BOD 5 (22-15 mg/l) associated with higher quantity of Ceratophyllum demersum.This conclusion may apply on epiphytic algae which collected from this aquatic plant.         This study is carried out on the epiphytic algae on Ceratophyllum demersum L. that collected from two             different stations at Shatt al-Arab River to investigate the variations in quantity and quality of the epiphytic algae according to location of aquatic plant. A total of 80 taxa of epiphytic algae were identified at two studied areas; diatoms were the dominant (57taxa) followed by Cyanobacteria (12 taxa) and Chlorophyta (11 taxa). There were variations in the total algal species at two studied stations. Most of the identified algae were originally benthic but some were planktonic such as (Cyclotella spp.; Coscinodiscus sp.; Stephanodiscus sp.; Bacillaria paxillifer and Scenedesmus spp.). Six species appeared during the study period; which may be due to their wide range in temperature tolerance. Higher value of BOD 5 (22-15 mg/l) associated with higher quantity of Ceratophyllum demersum. This conclusion may apply on epiphytic algae which collected from this aquatic plant.

STUDY OF EPIPHYTIC ALGAE ON Ceratophyllum demersum L. FROM TWO STATIONS AT SHATT AL-ARAB RIVER

      This study is carried out on the epiphytic algae on Ceratophyllum demersum L. that collected from two             different stations at Shatt al-Arab River to investigate the variations in quantity and quality of the epiphyticalgae according to location of aquatic plant. A total of 80 taxa of epiphytic algae were identified at two studied areas; diatoms were the dominant(57taxa) followed by Cyanobacteria (12 taxa) and Chlorophyta (11 taxa). There were variations in the total algal species at two studied stations. Most of the identified algae wereoriginally benthic but some were planktonic such as (Cyclotella spp.; Coscinodiscus sp.; Stephanodiscussp.; Bacillaria paxillifer and Scenedesmus spp.). Six species appeared during the study period; which may be due to their wide range in temperaturetolerance. Higher value of BOD 5 (22-15 mg/l) associated with higher quantity of Ceratophyllum demersum.This conclusion may apply on epiphytic algae which collected from this aquatic plant.         This study is carried out on the epiphytic algae on Ceratophyllum demersum L. that collected from two             different stations at Shatt al-Arab River to investigate the variations in quantity and quality of the epiphytic algae according to location of aquatic plant. A total of 80 taxa of epiphytic algae were identified at two studied areas; diatoms were the dominant (57taxa) followed by Cyanobacteria (12 taxa) and Chlorophyta (11 taxa). There were variations in the total algal species at two studied stations. Most of the identified algae were originally benthic but some were planktonic such as (Cyclotella spp.; Coscinodiscus sp.; Stephanodiscus sp.; Bacillaria paxillifer and Scenedesmus spp.). Six species appeared during the study period; which may be due to their wide range in temperature tolerance. Higher value of BOD 5 (22-15 mg/l) associated with higher quantity of Ceratophyllum demersum. This conclusion may apply on epiphytic algae which collected from this aquatic plant.

Targeted prevention of common mental health disorders in university students: randomised controlled trial of a transdiagnostic trait-focused web-based intervention

Background: A large proportion of university students show symptoms of common mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and eating disorders. Novel interventions are required that target underlying factors of multiple disorders.<p></p> Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of a transdiagnostic trait-focused web-based intervention aimed at reducing symptoms of common mental disorders in university students.<p></p> Method: Students were recruited online (n = 1047, age: M = 21.8, SD = 4.2) and categorised into being at high or low risk for mental disorders based on their personality traits. Participants were allocated to a cognitive-behavioural trait-focused (n = 519) or a control intervention (n = 528) using computerised simple randomisation. Both interventions were fully automated and delivered online (trial registration: ISRCTN14342225). Participants were blinded and outcomes were self-assessed at baseline, at 6 weeks and at 12 weeks after registration. Primary outcomes were current depression and anxiety, assessed on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD7). Secondary outcome measures focused on alcohol use, disordered eating, and other outcomes.<p></p> Results: Students at high risk were successfully identified using personality indicators and reported poorer mental health. A total of 520 students completed the 6-week follow-up and 401 students completed the 12-week follow-up. Attrition was high across intervention groups, but comparable to other web-based interventions. Mixed effects analyses revealed that at 12-week follow up the trait-focused intervention reduced depression scores by 3.58 (p<.001, 95%CI [5.19, 1.98]) and anxiety scores by 2.87 (p = .018, 95%CI [1.31, 4.43]) in students at high risk. In high-risk students, between group effect sizes were 0.58 (depression) and 0.42 (anxiety). In addition, self-esteem was improved. No changes were observed regarding the use of alcohol or disordered eating.<p></p> Conclusions This study suggests that a transdiagnostic web-based intervention for university students targeting underlying personality risk factors may be a promising way of preventing common mental disorders with a low-intensity intervention

A lag of 44 years: presence of Epinephelus lanceolatus (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Epinephelidae) from the Persian Gulf

An old stuffed specimen of the giant grouper, Epinephelus lanceolatus (Bloch, 1790) (2000 mm TL), was recovered during the relocation of the artefacts of the Basrah Natural History Museum, University of Basrah, Iraq recently. The specimen was collected 44 years ago in 1974 by a gillnet in the Shatt al-Arab Estuary, Basrah, Iraq. So far, this species is known to have no records from the Persian Gulf area. The present report is important in recording E. lanceolatus from the estuary of the Shatt al-Arab River and is considered new for both the Iraqi and the Persian Gulf waters. Our finding brings to light an amazing example of invasion lag