Pollution threatens water quality in the Central Marshes of Southern Iraq

تلوث المياه مشكلة يمكن أن تتفاقم بسبب الجفاف مع زيادة تراكيز المواد غير المرغوب فيها. توفر الاهوار الطبيعية إمكانية تحسين جودة المياه وهنا نقدم أدلة على هذه الخدمة بناءً على تدفق المياه من نهر الفرات (الذي عانى من انخفاض كبير في التدفق) إلى الأهوار في جنوب العراق. تم إنشاء سدة ترابية في عام 2010 على نهر الفرات لمنع المياه التي يقل ارتفاعها عن 1.7 متر من المرور من محافظة ذي قار (الجبايش) إلى محافظة البصرة (المدَينه) كاستجابة للجفاف الشديد الذي واجه المنطقة في عامي 2009 و 2010. ونتيجة لذلك ، أصبحت الاهوار الوسطى في الجبايش موقعا نهائيا (بدون منفذ) الى كل مياه نهر الفرات التي تاتي من غرب العراق محملة بمختلف الملوثات والنفايات الزراعية. تم اختبار قدرة الاهوار الوسطى على العمل كبالوعة لتقليل تراكم العناصر الغذائية (NO2 ، NO3 ، PO4) ، والملوحة ، والأيونات الرئيسة ، والمعادن الثقيلة (Cu ، Ni ، Pb ، Cd ، Zn) في نهر الفرات. قسمت منطقة الدراسة إلى أربع مناطق أفقية (النهر وثلاث مناطق داخل الهور) وأجريت ثمانية مسوحات ميدانية من تشرين الثاني 2013 إلى حزيران 2014 لجمع عينات المياه باستخدام منهجية الخط المستقيم (transect line methodology). كانت الملوحة والأيونات الرئيسية أعلى بشكل معنوي داخل الهور مقارنة بالنهر. ومع ذلك ، لم يتم العثور على اختلافات بين قيم المغذيات في النهر والهور مما يشير إلى أن دور الهور للعمل كبالوعة لهذه المواد كان محدودا  وان تراكم الملوثات وتركيزها كان اكثر في داخل الهور منه الى المناطق القريبة للنهر. لذلك فإن التراكم طويل الأمد يشكل تحديًا كبيرًا يواجه الهور في ظل ظروف شحة المياه في نهر الفرات ، وهذا يتطلب اهتمامًا عاجلاً ، خاصة بالنظر إلى مكانة الموقع كموقع للتراث العالمي (لخدمات النظم الطبيعية المقدمة للسكان المحليين) وكمنطقة تنوع بيولوجي مهمة. ملف ملحقWater pollution is an issue that can be exacerbated by drought as increased concentrations of unwanted substances are a consequence of lower water levels. Polluted water that flows into natural marshlands leads to the deposition of pollutants in the interior of the marsh. Here we present evidence that the interior of the Central Marsh (CM) in southern Iraq suffers from higher levels of pollution than areas closer to the source of water entering the marsh (the Euphrates River). A 1.7m embankment that halts the flow of the Euphrates is only infrequently breached and so the CM is effectively the terminal destination of the waters (and their associated pollutants and agricultural waste) flowing from the West of Iraq. A range of water quality metrics were measured where the Euphrates enters the CM and at increasing distances into the interior of the CM. The following measures were taken:  NO2, NO3, PO4 , Salinity, Major ions, and Heavy Metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, Zn). The area of study was divided into four horizontal zones (the river and three zones inside the marsh) and eight field surveys were carried out from November 2013 to June 2014 to collect water samples by using a transect line methodology.  Salinity and major ions (Na, K, Cl, Ca, and Mg) were significantly higher inside the marsh compared with levels in the river water immediately before it entered the CM.  These findings indicate  the increased risk of these pollutants to humans and wildlife living in and using the CM.  This issue  requires urgent attention, especially to the status of the CM as a World Heritage site (for the ecosystem services provided to local people) as an Important Biodiversity Area. The reported declines in water quantity in the Euphrates over recent decades will likely further exacerbate the problems we report. Supplement fil

Evaluation of the Ecosystem Services of the Central Marsh in Southern Iraq

Ecosystems provide humans with services that include benefits from food, fresh water, climate regulation, and socio-economic assets. The Mesopotamian marshlands are among the largest wetlands in the Middle East and they provide various benefits. However, ecosystem services of the Marshlands are consistently undervalued in national economic analysis and decision making. This study focusses on the Central Marshes, the first National Park in Iraq, and is the first attempt at valuing a series of ecosystem services from a valuable natural ecosystem in Iraq. We adopted the Toolkit for Ecosystem Services Site-Based Assessment (TESSA) for the determination of biophysical and economic values of services at the site level. Data on key ecosystem services (as determined by 30 interviews with residents of the Marshes) included the trading of fish, harvested plants, water buffalo milk, and fodder were collected across six months in 2014. We valued the ecosystem services within the CM (40,000 ha) over a 6-month period to have a total value of 860,078.23 USD. This estimated total value was the sum of 86,637.25 USD from harvested plants, 551,334.80 USD from trading fish, 167, 303.70 USD from trading water buffalo milk, and 54,804.00 USD from trading fodder. The average income per individual in Iraq in 2014 was 6720 USD (World Bank data - https://data.worldbank.org/country/iraq): thus, the CM provided an average salary for 256 people. Our results provided greater understanding of the ecosystem services contributed by the Central Marshes and has highlighted the crucial role of nature in supporting sustainable well-being for humans living in the area. In addition, the results can be used to enhance local policy, to aid management plans of the National park, and to estimate lost and damage that could result from impact of climate change on the area

Land use change in Baghdad City and assessment of the Jadriyah and Umm Al- Khanazeer Island Important Bird Area (IBA) from 1984 to 2020

Land use change, particularly the expansion of urban areas and associated human activities at the expense of natural and semi-natural areas, is a major ecological issue in urban areas around the world. Climate change being a very strong additional driver for changing the temperature and habitat in the cities. This also applies to Baghdad, Iraq, where urbanisation and climate change exerts a major pressure on the natural habitats of the city, and thus may affect the ability of city planners to adapt to future climate change scenarios. Here we present evidence of substantial growth in urban areas, increases in temperature, and degradation of natural vegetation within Baghdad city by using Remote Sensing techniques and an assessment for the Jadriyah and Umm Al-Khanazeer site (JUKI). These changes were associated with loss of bird species richness within the area, which was previously the only Important Bird Area (IBA) within the city. A standardised scoring system (following Birdlife International global framework) was used to assess Pressure-State-Response:  JUKI site scored 3-5 for pressure (Medium), two for the state (Moderate), and two for the response (Low). Despite the degradation highlighted in Baghdad city, the JUKI site still has 88% intact habitat to support bird trigger species. We conclude that the site urgently needs a detailed management plan to ensure the protection of its habitats and avian fauna, and that the area should be declared as a protected area according to the “IUCN Category IV: Habitat/Species Management Area; to provide a means by which the urban residents may obtain regular contact with nature”, and re-designated JUKI as an IBA site. The study also identifies the most affected areas in the city of Baghdad, which should take the priority of the afforestation efforts and any future restoration campaigns

Effects of ethanol on the hippocampus of rat Brain

ten albino male rates were orally treated daily 20% and 30% ethanol for 30 days treatment with 30%ethanol caused of hippocampuse of darckness google hospital patient

Ring Recoveries from Steppe Eagles and Eastern Imperial Eagles from the Russian and Kazakhstan Breeding Populations and a Review of Major Threats to Eagles in Iraq

The article summarizes ring recoveries from 2 Steppe Eagles (Aquila nipalensis) and 2 Eastern Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca) from Iraq that were ringed in Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as ring recoveries from 2 Steppe Eagles and 3 Eastern Imperial Eagles from the border regions of Iraq (Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) that were ringed in Russia. Threats for eagles in Iraq are discussed in this article