Concentrations and distribution of major, minor, and trace elements were
studied in thirteen sediment samples from Al-Hammar Marsh.
Multivariate statistical techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
and Agglomerative Hierarchal Cluster Analysis (AHCA) as well as pollution
analysis such as Enrichment Factor (EF) were used to process the data and identify
the possible sources of elemental constituents in sediment samples.Results of
chemical analysis revealed that Major element mean concentrations were in the
order of Ca> Si> K> Mg> and minor elements were in the order of Al> Fe>S>Cl>
Ti> P>Mn> Sr> N and trace elements were in the order of Cr> Ni> Zr>V>Zn>
Cu>Br> Co>Pb >Mo>As>U> Se> Cd.
Mainly increasing of Salinity in Marsh water and sediments led to increasing of Mg, S, Ca, Br, Cl concentrations in Al-Hammar Marsh Sediments.
Multivariate statistical techniques PCA and AHCA revealed that V, Zn, As, Se,
Mo, Pb, Co, Fe, Ni, and Cu were most probably derived from fertilizers and
petroleum extraction wastes in and near the study site. U (at StR1R) and Sr came from
fertilizers and for U might be from military weapon. Br, Cd, Cl, Ca, S, P and N
indicated anthropogenic source (fertilizers, animal waste, and domestic sewage).
While Mg, Cr, Mn were mainly associated with anthropogenic activities (fertilizers
and animal wastes). On the other hand Al, Si, Ti, K، and Zr were primarily of
natural sourcing from erosion of parent rocks. Enrichment Factor gave compatible
results with PCA and AHCA findings and revealed that Al-Hammar Marsh
sediments were highly contaminated by S, Mg, Cl, Ca, P, Br, Se, Mo, Ni, Co, Cu,
and Sr. and it were minimally contaminated by Zn, V, U, Cr (excluding SR3R), As, Fe,
Mn, and N.
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Um-Al-Naaj region in Al-Hawiezah Marsh, Southern Iraq was chosen to study the environmental variations of some water characteristics during 2008, seasonally. The results showed clear seasonal changes in values of some environmental variables (temperature, depth, light penetration, turbidity, total suspended solids, pH, dissolved oxygen, reactive phosphate, reactive nitrite, and reactive nitrate), while there were no clear seasonal changes in electrical conductivity and salinity values. In addition, high nutrients concentrations and light penetration were noted. Statistical analysis showed significant positive relationship between air and water temperature; electrical conductivity and salinity. Water turbidity was significantly affecte
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The fish assemblage structure in Al-Huwaizah marsh, southern of Iraq was assessed. Fish samples collected monthly by different fishing means from period December 2017 to November 2018. A total of 28959 individual of fish belonging to 9 families and 19 species were collected, 11 of them of native species and 8 of alien
species. The numerical dominance index value (D3) of the highest three abundant species comprised 74.26% of the total fish caught, included Planiliza abu (Al-Keshny) 38.2% ; Coptodon zilli (Tilapia red abdomen) 29.41% and Carassius auratus (Prussian carp) 6.65%. The total weight of fish caught 2,190,680 tan, highest weight 312,242kg achieved in July, while lowest weight 41,590 kg found in&nb
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The current study aims to find a new plan to manage the water quality of the western part of the Hammar Marsh to reduce the salts that cause problems for the marshes and preserve their environmental life by isolating the southwestern part of the Hammar Marsh by closing the outlet under the railway embankment. The outlet is discharging saline water to the east-western part of Al Hammar Marsh. After isolating the southwestern part of the marsh, a new outlet is proposed. The impact of the flow hydrodynamics on improving the water quality was simulated using the SMS model. The hydrodynamics and water quality simulation models for the marsh are : a hydrodynamic model and average depth (SMS RMA2) and a two-dimensional water quality model (SMS
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Iraq has had more than 10000 km2 of geographical low land areas called marshes.
Enriched with great diversity of natural vegetation and wild life. With increasing
climatic changes and passive man interference phenomena, vast areas of these
marshes have deteriorated through drying out processes at an alarming rate.
According to recent survey achieved by several Iraqi ministries marshes areas have
decreased to about quarter of theS original area. The statistical data and geospatial
information are weak. We monitored, assessed the environmental processes and
detect changes using digitally processed landsat MSS (Multispectral Scanner) and
Spot (System Pour Observation) satellite images that transform haur Ibn Najm
Huwaiza marsh is considered the largest marsh in the southern part of Iraq. It is located between 31° and 31.75° latitude and extends over the Iraqi-Iranian border; but the largest part lies in Iraq. It is located to the east of Tigris River in Messan and Basra governorates.
In this research, the variation of some water quality parameters at different locations of Huwaiza marsh were studied to find out its efficacy in the treatment of the contamination coming from the wastewater outfall of Kahlaa brokendown sewage treatment plant which lies on the Kahlaa River. This rive is the main feeder of Huwaiza marsh. Ten water quality sampling locations were chosen in this marsh. The water samples were taken during 2009 for three months; Janu
The degree of contamination in the sediments of the Euphrates River (Shatt Al-
Hindiya), for the metals As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sc Se, Sr, V and Zn has
been evaluated using the index of geo-accumulation (I-geo), Enrichment factor (EF),
Contamination factor (CF) and pollution load index (PLI), whereat the I-geo has
been widely utilized as a measure of pollution in freshwater sediment. Enrichment
factor (EF) is one widely used as approach to characterize the degree of
anthropogenic pollution to establish enrichment ratios, while the pollution load
index (PLI) represents the number of times by which the heavy metal concentrations
in the sediment exceeds the background concentration, and gives a summative
i
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 se
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Heavy metal contamination comprises a great concern in the environment. A magnetic study combined with heavy metal analyses was performed in the Sawa Lake in Al-Muthanna governorate (southern Iraq). Concentrations of selected heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Ni, As and Pb) have been measured and magnetic susceptibility (χ) of sediment samples collected from the lake bottom was calculated.
The results confirmed that a cement plant, which is located less than two kilometers away from the lake has no contamination levels on the lake’s sediments. No enhancement in the magnetic susceptibility was observed. X-ray florescence (XRF) was performed for heavy metal analyses.
Spatial variations of χ with the mean value of 4.58 x
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