Checklist of Aquatic Oligochaetes Species in Tigris–Euphrates River basin

A total of 60 species of aquatic oligochaetes were identified in different sites within Tigris-Euphrates basin / Iraq, including River Tigris, River Euphrates, Southern marshes ( Al-Haweiza , Al-Hammar and Al-Chebaiesh ) , Shutt Al-Germa, and Shatt Al-Arab. In River Euphrates 39 species were identified, 40 species from River Tigris and 32 species from Shatt-Al-Arab and southern marshes.The identified species were classified as four species of Family Aeolosomatidae, 54 species of Naididae ( 31 Naidinae , 8 Pristininae and 15 Tubificid worms), one species of each of Lumbriculidae ( Lumbriculus variegates ) and Lumbricidae ( Eiseiella tetraedra). Among Aeolosomatidae , Aelosoma aquaternarium, A. Liedyi, A. variegatum and A. hemprichi, in which, A. variegatum was the most frequent species, found in Euphrates river. Naidinae community were represented by five species of genus Chaetogaster, two species of each of Paranais, Slavina, & Stylaria, four species of Allonais , and seven species of each of Dero and Nais, in addition to Stephensoniana trivandrana, Specaria josinae and Ophidonais serpentina. Nais variabilis was the most abundant and frequent species in River Tigris while Stylaria lacustris & Ophidonais serpentina are abundant in River Euphrates . Species of Pristininae were representative by four species of genus Pristina and three species of genus pristinella, among them Priatina longiseta is the most abundant species.Tubificid worms, Branchuira sowerbyi and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri were the most frequent and abundant species in the surface sediments of Iraqi waters. Beside L. hoffmeisteri , other five species of Limnodrilus, two species of Potomothrix, and a single species of Tubifex tubifex , Embolocephalus velutinus, Aulodrilus piguetia, Psammoryctides moravicus and Rhyacodrilus coccineus were recorded

Pristina species (oligochaeta: naididae) in tigris river within baghdad city / Iraq

A total of 72 individuals of genus Pristina were sorted from aquatic plant, Ceratophyllum demersum L., and filamentous algae collected from three sites on Tigris River at Baghdad including: Al-Sarafiya area (S1), Al- Jadiriyah area (S2), and Al- Za´afaraniya area (S3). Four species were identified including P. longiseta, P. aequiseta, P. proboscidea and P. foreli, with percentags of 51.7 , 36.4, 1.1, and 10.5 % respectively. The first two species found in all sites , while , P. proboscidea found only in S1 and P. foreli only in S2

Naididae (Clitellata : Oligochaeta) and Aeolosomatidae ( Polychaeta : Aphanoneura) Species associated with aquatic plants in Tigris River/ Baghdad / Iraq

339 individuals , were sorted from 22 samples collected from three sites in Tigris River including , Al- Sarafiya district (S1), Al- Jaderiyah district (S2) and Al-Za'afaraniya district (S3), in addition to one site in the irrigation canal of the Al- Jaderiyah campus of the University of Baghdad (S4) , and in Al- Jeish canal(S5) east Baghdad. The sorting results revealed that the highest number of individuals of 102 was recorded at S4, whereas the lowest number of 24 individuals was recorded at S2. Regarding the sites, site S4 was the richest site with 30% of the total number represented 16 species, while each of S3 and S5 had 8 species only with 17.11% and 28.60% of the total individuals number respectively. The values of Jaccared Similarity Index, shows that the highest similarity index of 81% was recorded between S2 & S4.Sorted Naididae worms comprised, 17 species of the subfamily Naidinae with 59% of the total number ,10 species of them are new record to Iraq, and 6 species are new records to Tigris River. Four species of the Subfamily Pristininae were identified, with a percentage of 25% of the total number, two of them are new record to Iraq, while the other two are new records to Tigris River, in addition to two species of Aeolostomatidae (Aphanoneura: Polychaeta), with16% of the total number , both of them are new records to Iraq. Nine genera were recorded , from which Nais was the most abundant genus, followed by genus Pristina. These two genera were found in all study sites. Four species of Chaetogaster were observed including, C. cristallinus; C. diastrophus; C.Limnaei and C. langi, The first two species are new record to Iraq , and they are the most abundant species within the Chaetogaster collections . Uncinais minor, Slavina appendiculata and Allonais inaequalis were three species new record to Iraq. The first species was found in S5 and, second species in S1 , while the third one was found in S1& S5 . Three species of Dero were identified, including, D.dorsalis, D. obtusa and D. digitata, the first two species are new record to Iraq , and the last one is new record to Tigris RiverTwo species of Stylaria were observed including, S. lacustris and S. fossularis. Latter species was new record to Tigris River.Regarding the genus Nais, five species were recorded, including Nais varaibilis; N . comminus; N. simplex; N. paradalis and N. elinguis; The first three species are new record to Iraq, while the last two species are new record to Tigris River.According to subfamily Pristininae, Four species of Pristina were identified, P.aequiseta, P.longiseta , P. Proboscidea , and P. foreli. The first two species were the most abundant species of Pristina . P. foreli is new record to Iraq, while the other three species were new recods to Tigris River.Finally , a number of 55 individuals of genus Aeolosoma were recorded in S5 only, with two species including A. quarternarium and Aeolosoma leidyi , The two species are new record to Iraq.According to above results, it is clear that there were 14 & 8 species new records for Iraq and Tigris River in this investigation respectively

New records of Naidid worms (Oligochaeta: Naididae) in Euphrates River

Naidid worms were sorted from 27 samples of aquatic macrophyta including ceratophyllum demersum , Potamogeton crispus and, Hydrilla verticellat with associated filamentous algae were collected from Euphrates River at Al-Mussayab city, 60 Km southwest Baghdad. The result of sorted worms revealed the presence of eight species of subfamily Naidinae, which are consider as new records for Iraq, including Stephensoniana trivandrana; Paranais frici, Ophidonais serpentine, Specaria josinae, Dero (Dero) evelinae , Dero (Aulophorus) indicus , Nais pseudobtusa and finally N. stolci. This investigation includes morphological descriptions for each species illustrated by identification criteria photos

New records of Turbellarian Platyhelminthes from Al-Dalmage lake / Iraq

A total of 437 individuals of Turbellarin Platyhelminthes were sorted from benthic samples collected monthly for a period of seven months( April to November 2013 ) from AL-Dalmage lake, a part of middle section for main outfall drain south of Baghdad. They were identified as Gyratrix hermaphroditus, Stenostomum leucops ,Stenostomum unicolar and Stenostomum bryophilum ,The relative abundance of worms decreased during hot season which (May to September) ,where they start rising again. The species were studied alive , the identification criteria were illustrated by photos. G. hermaphroditus was the most abundant species among the four species

Aquatic Oligochaetes of Iraq's Southern Marshes

Aquatic Oligochaetes community in the Iraqi southern marshes, Al- Hawiezah, Al-Chibayish and Al-Hammar, have been studied for the period from July 2006 to June 2007. Two sites within each marsh, in addition to a reference site located at Shatt Al-Garma, have been chosen for sample collection using Ekman dredge. The results revealed that the highest average annual density was 16800 individual / m2 recorded in Al-Hawiezah marsh, while in Al-Chibayish and al-Hammar marsh the density did not exceed 5111 individual/m2. In contrast, the density of Oligochaetes recorded in Shatt Al-Garma was about 10500 individual / m2. The highest monthly density was recorded in April 2007.The highest local percentage occurrence was 96% recorded in Al-Hawiezah marsh, while the highest average monthly percentage occurrence was recorded in January 2007.The study revealed the presence of 19 Oligochaetes species belonging to 14 genera and 4 families. Naididae was represented by 8 spp.; Tubuficidae 8 spp.; Lumbriculidae 2 spp. and Lumbricidae 1 spp. Tubificid worms formed about 73% of the total count while Naididae formed 15%, Lumbriculidae 8% and Lumbricidae 4%.Among Tubificidae, Limnodrilus was the most abundant genus composed about 35% of L. hoffmeisteri; 11.5% L. claparedianus; 8% L. profundicola and 4.7% L. maumeensis, followed by Tubifex tubifex 23%. Other species were Branchuira sowerbyi formed 15%; 2.8 and 2 % for Peloscolex velutinus and Aulodrilus pigueti respectively. Naididae worms comprised 8 species including 32% of Dero digitata, 24% of Nais variabilis, 14% of Amphichaeta sp. and 11% of each of D.obtuse and Pristina longiseta. However, D. dorsalis represented only 7.5% of the total Naididae. Few individuals of B. sowerbyi and Lumbriculus variegates, with two regenerated parts at the posterior end were also detected in some samples. This case was considered a rare observation within the population of these worms in this particular area

Study of Naidid worms community associated with two species of aquatic plants in River Tigris inside Baghdad City / Iraq

The present study is concern with the interaction between the naidid worms diversity and the species of aquatic plant within which the worms found . For this purpose, two species of aquatic plant were used, Ceratophyllum demersum and Eichhornia crassipes. 12 samples of aquatic plants were collected , as one sample monthly for a period from September 2012 to September 2013 from different site on Tigris river within Baghdad City. From C. demersum, 1428 individuals, were sorted during the study period, related to 17 species. 12 species of subfamily Naidinae which are Chaetogaster limnaei , C. diastrophus , Ophidonais serpentine , Dero ( Dero) digitata. , D.(D.) evelinae , Nais pseudobtosa , N.simplex, N.stolci , N.Paradalis , N.elingius , N. variabilis and N. communis. In addition to five species of subfamily Pristininae, two species of Pristina , which are P. longiseta and . P. aequiseta, and three species of pristinella, which are P. . Jenkinae , P. sima , and P. osborni. Dero ( Dero) digitata was recorded the higher number of 430 individuals,with a percentage of 28.11% of the total sorted worms. About the aquatic plant Eichhornia crassipes, a total of 829 worms were sorted from it, which are related to six species of Naidinae , which are diaphanous , Ophidonais serpentine, Stylaria lacustris , Slavina appendiculata , N. variabilis and finally the species Allonais inaequalis. There was no any species of Pristininae sorted from this plant. The highest number of 467 individuals was recorded by the species Slavina appendiculata, with a percentage of 52.3% of the total number and 228 individual with a percentage of 25.5% was recorded by Allonais inaequalis

Sludge worms species (Oligochaeta: Naididae: Tubificinae) From Different Aquatic Habitat in Baghdad / Iraq

The present investigation is concerned primarily with sorting and identification of subfamily Tubificinae from River Tigris and some water surface in Baghdad /Iraq . For this purpose six study sites were chosen, including a Al- Kadhemyia drainage canal, North Baghdad; three sites on the shore of River Tigris; in addition to site in Al-Jaish canal , East Baghdad, finally the sixth site was from pond in Al-Zawra'a park , within the center of Baghdad .These sites were characterized by sediment rang from clay, silty-clay to silty with a percentage of organic matter ranged between 0.7% - 9.9% . According to water temperature, salinity and pH values, they were nearly identical in all study sites, the water temperature was ranged through the study period between 12.5 – 300 C , while electrical conductivity and salinity values were ranged beteen 733.5-1227.5 ?s ,which equivalent to 0.469-0.787 ‰ salinity. All sites were slightly alkaline ,so the pH values were ranged between 7.5-8.1. 3628 individuals were sorted from 24 samples collected from different study sites.. Twelve species were identified belonging to seven genera, including , Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, L. claparedeianus, .L. profundicola, . L.udekemianus , L. silvani, Tubifex tubifex, Branchiura sowerbyi, Potamothrix. 2013 )2( ???? ????? ?????? ???? 10 982 bavaricus, , P. hammoniensis, Psammoryctide moravicus, Monopylephorus irroratus, and Rhyacodrilus coccineus. The result revealed that Al-Jaish canal and Tigris River / al-Sarafyia were considered as the richest sites according to the number of species recorded, where 8 species were recorded in each of them, but Al-Jaish canal had higher individual number of 1346 individuals , followed by Al-Kadhemyia drainage canal recorded only three species with high total individual number of 606 individual. The lowest total individual number was recorded in Tigris River / Al- Zaafaranyia of 326 individual. L. hoffmeisteri, records higher individuals number of 1870 individual , followed by B. sowerbyi which records 946 individual. Both species recorded highest percentage occurance of 100% followed by 79.16% recorded by L. profundicola. High densities of Tubificinae were recorded during all study period. The highest density was during March-April, reached between 2109 -534.9 ind/m2 in Tigris River sites , 7270.5 ind/m2 in Al-Jaish canal and 2419.8 ind/m2 in Al-Zawra'a pond. The .results of relative abundance revealed that L. hoffmeisteri was the dominant species in site Tigris River/Al- Jaderyia, and abundant in other study sites. B. sowerbyi was abundant in all study sites, while other species were recorded between few to rare species except L. udekemianus which was abundant in site Al-Jaish canal, and T. tubifex in site Tigris River / Al- Zaafaranyia

Pollution Bio- indicators In Al-Diwania River A1- (^a?lisia Province / Iraq

Benthic invertebrates were used as bio- indicators to evaluate the pollution in -Diwania River . Five stations were selected for this purpose , extending from A1 -?? rtream to A1- Sadeer District downstream . The percentage of?ct uP?str?^ ? ?, oligochaeta to total benthic invertebrates were calculated . The population density of evaluation. 'I'he results Were ??? Tubificid worms without hair ehaetae was ©iso used IOBS(01igochaete Index of Sediment Bioindicati©n ), TUSP ? presented as indices Io (Tubificidae Species Percentage ) & degree of pollution Eo . IT was noticed that the 0 in??37.17 percentage of ©lig©chaeta to the total benthic invertebrates ranged between to 60.685 in station 3 , while the percentage ©f Tubificid w©rms t© ©ther ? stati©n oligochaeta ranged from 32% in station 2 to 74.17% in station 3.Io values ranged between 21.3 in station 3 to 22.3 in station I , while lobs index showed a higher value 7.62 in station 3 and lawer value 2.43 in station 3 .the higher value of TUSP index was 32,5 in stati©n 5 and the lawer valus was 15.9 in station 1 . Pollution degree F 1 ( percentage ©f Tubificidae without hair M/gg& ? was rec©rded in stati©n 5-96 respectively ) and degree E in station 3,4&5 (percentage of Tubificidae & ?4-? without hair ehaetae was 15.95 , 15.95 & 16.16 respectively ). According to these results, stati©n 1 & 2 may be regarded as free fr©m p©lluti©n , while the other stations . were considered as slightly p©llute

A study of Soil Invertebrates community in a Date - Palm plantation in Baghdad, Iraq

Soil invertebrates community an important role as part of essential food chain and responsible for the decomposition in the soil, helps soil aeration , nutrients recycling and increase agricultural production by providing the essential elements necessary for photosynthesis and energy flow in ecosystems.The aim of the present study was to investigate the soil invertebrates community in one of the date palms plantation in Aljaderia district South of Baghdad, , and their relationships with some physical and chemical properties of the soil , as Five randomly distributed replicates of soil samples were collected monthly. Invertebrates samples were sorted from the soil with two methods, direct method to isolate large invertebrates and indirectly to isolate small invertebrates using wet funnel method. The study also included the determination of physical and chemical factors of the soil (Temperature, Salinity, pH, Organic matter, Humidity, In addition to the soil texture).Monthly fluctuations in physical and chemical characteristics of the soil and the total invertebrates community study site were determined. Significant correlations the of the invertebrates community and each of temperature, organic matter, and humidity were observed. The study revealed that the temperature of the soil ranged between 5 to 25 C0 , The salinity concentration ranged between 1.1-1.9 ‰, The pH values ranged between 7.3 to 7.8 and the percentage of soil moisture ranged between 15 - 25% , Soil samples were composed of 44.6 % Clay, 19.7% Silt and 35.5% Sand.A total of 4625 individuals of soil invertebrates belonging to 16 taxa were sorted , within which the adult and larval insects were the most abundant, and from them 1283 individuals were sorted , represented 28% of the total numbers, followed by Isopoda , which 1030 individuals of them were sorted, In addition to Nematode, Oligochaetes Annelids family Enchytraeidae, and Earthworms family Lumbricida, Species of Chilopoda, Diplopoda, mites, land snails and slugs. The highest total individual number were recorded recorded durim moderate temperature months, February, March and April amounted to 838, 801 and 813 individuals, respectively.A significant correlation was mated between total number of soil invertebrates and each of temperature, organic matter and humidity. The significant difference in means was calculated according to LSD test