The tentative list of the biodiversity (plants and vertebrates) of Bahr Al-Najaf depression is found to comprise 104 vertebrate species including 2 fishes, 14 reptiles, 73 resident and migratory birds and 15 mammals. The flora consists of 31 species, mainly of plants well adapted to desert conditions that dominate the area, besides few examples of water plants. The salinity was found, through chemical analysis of the lake water, to be of high value which reduces the diversity of aquatic animal and plant diversity.

This study was achieved to investigate the accumulation of some heavy metals included: Cadmium, Lead and Nickel in the tissues (gill, intestine, liver, muscles and skin) of Silurus triostegus Heckel, 1843 (Siluriformes, Siluridae) and its larval stage of the nematode Contracaecum sp. (Rhabditida, Anisakidae). As well as to assess the infection patterns of Contracaecum among S. triostegus specimens which were purchased fresh from the local market in Baghdad. One hundred and nine nematodes specimens in larval stage were recovered from the fish host; the overall prevalence of Contracaecum sp. was 38.6%. The sex of the host was not significantly (P ˃ 0.05) associated with the infection of this nematode.
Results showed that the overall me

A total of 72 specimens of the wild jungle cat Felis chaus furax De Winton, 1898 were
examined for the purpose of this study. The results show that 55.6% of the sample harbored
either single or mixed infections with ecto- and/ or endoparasites. The mode of infection
shows that only four specimens( 5.6% of the total sample) acquire single infections, the
double infections comprise 15.3%, the triple infections comprised 33.3%, while the
quadruplicate infections comprised 1.4%.
The systematic list of the parasites included six ectoparasites: Ctenocephalides felis (insect),
Sarcoptes scabiei (mite), Haemaphysalis adleri, Rhipicephalus leporis, Rhipicephalus
turanicus and Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum (ticks) and seven

Thirty three specimens of the blue-cheeked bee-eater were collected at central and southern Iraq from April 1997 to October 2000. Two nematodes Hadjelia truncata and Syphaciella capensis, were recovered from the alimentary tract. Reporting these two nematodes represents the first record for Iraq as well as a new host record.

This work deals with the nematode parasitesfrom the midgut of (16) specimens of Green
toad (Bufo viridis) Laurenti, 1768 collected from Baghdad area,central Iraq.
The parasites are:Cosmocercoides variabilis (Cosmocercidae) that considered as the first
report in Iraq on it and Oswaldocruzia filiformis (Molineidae).

On December 6, 2022, a single individual of African Crake Crecopsis egregia (Gruiformes, Rallidae) was recovered in the Algerian Sahara at Illizi City. This observation is considered the second in Algeria after the first at Kerzaz in Béni Abbès dated November 27, 2020.

Anatomy and morphology study of seeds for seven Lathyrus L., 1753 species in Iraq; the species were: L. annuus L.,1753, L. aphaca L., 1753, L. chloranthus Boiss., 1859, L. cicera L., 1753, L. sativus L., 1753, L. inconspicuus L., 1753 and L. sphaericus Retz.,1753. There are 17 species of the Fabaceae family that are distributed throughout the middle and northern regions of Iraq. Using a scanning electron microscope, the study's characteristics were examined to ascertain the taxonomic relationships, interactions, and issues that impeded the species' ability to be separated according to taxa.
The seeds were glossy in all species except L. sativus L. and L. sphaericus L. which were matt, the surface cells wall undulation, the wax covered

Ghar Formation outcrop at the Iraqi western desert was studied by microfacies analysis
of (13) thin sections collected from wadi Al-Ratgha ( west of Qaim ) . According to
petrographic com position and organisms content ,rocks were subdivided into (4)
microfacies units :bioclastic wackestone , mudstone , miliolids wackestone , and grainstone
with aggregate grains microfacies .Microfacies units reflect shallow marine environment of
low circulation of very warm water at the middle part . The lower and middle part
interbedded with quite open marine environment below the wave base . The upper part was
deposited at shallow marine environment of low circulation . The main diagenetic processes
were the transformation ( ty

Rooting response in stem cuttings of mung bean increased considerably with inresing
seedling age, due to endogenous IAA or supplied IBA. However, after the day 7- or 8-old of
seedling age. The cotyledons sheivel and drop-off spontaneously at day-8 of seedling age. So
that cotyledons excision after cuttings were made during the period between seedling
emergence (the day 4) and cotyledons dropping off (which starts at day 8 and its completion
at day 10) causes decrease in rooting at any time during cutting treatment ,in particular, at
zero time . In addition, results of this study revealed that terminal buds do not influence
significantly adventitious root formation whether IBA supplied or not. Whereas in leafless
c

In May 20th. 1985 two species of aphids were found on the roots of Vicia faba L. in Hammam region 30 Kilometer south of Mosul. Samples of these aphids were sent to the Commonwealth Institute of Entomology, London. ( No. 17002/9804 Asia ) and identified as being Smynthurodes betas westwood and Dysaphis crataegi (Kaltenbach) (APhididae : Homoptera). The first species was dominant. The latter species was also noticed on the roots of the common bishop's weed (Ammi majus L.) and on the wide carrot (Daucus carrota L.) of the family Umbelliferae (Bodenheimer & Swirski, 1957).

    Morphological and phonological studies of fungal pathogen infecting alfalfa weevil Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) indicating that infection has been shown to develop along two distinct physiological lines, each culminating in the production of either conidial or resting spores, in host cadavers which are morphologically distinct. The percent of infection and epizootic development appeared to be dependent on host density. Farther evidence to entail proper correlation between conidia and resting spores suggest that these two forms of spores are stages in the development of one pathogen.

Specimens of the hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus Gmelin. which were trapped in two places on the Eastern shores of the Tigris River, some 50 and 60 Km, south of Baghdad. central Iraq. were searched for ectoparasites. They revealed the following parasites: One species of Anoplura: polyplex spinulosa (Burm.), family Hoplople uridae, two species of fleas: Synostrnus pallidus (Tasch.) and Ctenocephalides felis (Bouche), family pulicidae, One mite species: Ornithonyssus bacoti (Hirst), family Macronyssidae and two tick species: Rhipicephalus leporis and R. turanicum family Ixodidae. All these ectoparasite species are new records on this hedgehog in Iraq.

    Two local fish Himri Carasobarbus luteus (Heckel, 1843)  and Hishni Liza abu (Heckel, 1843) were stained with Alizarin Red and featured some anatomical qualities which cleared the difference of the muscular and skeletal fabric for each fish. Since clear Histologic differences appeared in these two species, it was intended from this study the possibility of adopting a diagnosis between local fish species by staining bones and tissues.

   The Eurasian marsh frog Pelophylax ridibundus is a widespread species in Iraq. Examination of intestine of 25 marsh frogs collected in Al-Diwaniya city, middle of Iraq during the period from September to November 2014 revealed the presence of Nematotaenia dispar (Cestoda), Cosmocerca commutata and Cosmocercoides variabilis (Nematoda). Infection rates and intensity have been presented in this paper.

The current study aimed to determine the morphometric and meristic characteristics of the North African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822). Six specimens of C. gariepinus were collected from the Tigris River, in central Iraq. This study is considered the confirmation first record of this species in Iraq, and the second documentation of this exotic fish. The present species is characterized by a very long dorsal fin, a rounded caudal fin and four pairs of barbels.

This paper provides an identification key to the species of Orthetrum Newman, 1833 (Odonata, Libellulidae), including six species that were collected from different localities in Iraq.

    The species of O. anceps (Schneider, 1845) is registered as a new record in Iraq; the most important characters which are used in diagnostic key are included

    The ciliate species isolated from midgut and hindgut of Rough-tailed gecko Cyrtopodion scabrum (Heyden, 1827), identified as Nyctotherus hardwickii was collected from many regions of Baghdad, Iraq. The current study deals with a description and comparison of the morphology and morphometric characters of this species for the first time in Iraq.

The present study reports Morchella conica Pers.1818, which belongs to the family, Morchellaceae as a new record of Iraqi macromycota based on the morphological and molecular methods. During their short and often sporadic fruiting season, this fungal species was found in mixed forest unburned areas in Branan ranges (Suliamaniya Province, Northeast Iraq). Currently, M. conica is the second Morchella species reported from Iraq. The current study aimed to introduce this new record, which is poorly studied in the Middle East. M. conica is morphologically described and phylogenetically confirmed. The relationship between this species and other species within the genus was studied using the nrDNA ITS sequences from different species and divers

Convolvulus arvensis L., 1753 (Solanales, Convolvulaceae) is a cosmopolitan polymorphic perennial herb and one of 15 noxious crop weeds. The species has notable phenoplasticity among its populations. This study aimed to assess phenoplasticity in 20 morphologically distinct populations collected from the same habitat in Egypt to understand this feature in terms of chromosome number and karyotyping. A total of 55 morphological characters were studied, and the similarity values were assessed using Jaccard’s similarity coefficient. The morphological characters were distinguished into five groups with variations in chromosome counting and karyotyping. Accordingly, they were treated as genotypes. These genotypes include two distinct ploidy l

    Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm.) is involved in the destruction of dead wood which is the main place of settlement of several living organisms. After humification, dead wood also becomes an important component of forest soils.

    The purpose of the research is to study temperature and moisture conditions of extensive cultivation of oyster mushrooms on various wood substrates. To accomplish this goal, the following tasks were set: to determine the amount of effective stress temperatures and moisture content of substrates and their influence on the appearance of fruiting bodies of the oyster mushroom; to study the features of the extensive culti

The biodiversity of benthic foraminifera around the coral communities and the concentration of heavy elements (e.g., Mn, Fe, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Co) in Miskan Island and Al-Khiran coastline of Kuwait are used as an ecological indicator for the environmental and anthropogenic stresses occurred from February 2018 to February 2019. The study resulted in identifying 19 families, 6 orders, 29 genera, and 94 species. Using R-mode cluster analysis results in four assemblages and using Q-mode principal component analysis (PCA) distinguished three groups depending on the deep. The three main assemblages refer to different depths, Group A from 20 cm to 1 m depth; Group B from 1.5 to 2 m depth, Group C from 6 to 8 m depth. Al-Khiran coastli

    This histological study was carried out to compare between the thyroid gland of mice (as a model of the mammals) and the thyroid tissue of fish.  Unlike mice, the thyroid gland of fish can't be recognized by naked eye.  The present study revealed that the thyroid of mice varied from that of fish by the location and the histological structure. The study classified the physiological state of the thyroid of mice into three states and that of the fish into only two states. Accordingly, the study concluded that the metabolism of thyroid fish was of moderate type.

This investigation was designed to determine the occurrence of intestinal parasites in fresh
vegetables(Apium graveolense, Lepidium aucheri and Allium porrum), from different markets
as a primary effort in Iraq. Eight genera and species of intestinal parasites appear in
vegetables, they were as follow: Echinococcus sp. 50%,Oxyuris equi 45%,Habronema sp.
45%,Parascaris equroum 31.6%,Strongyloides westrei 30%,Toxocara sp. 18.3%,Ascaris
lumbricoides 11.6% and Hymenolepis sp. 8.3% .The scarcity of fresh water has meant that
urban gardeners are increasingly irrigating their plots with wastewater. This poses a threat to
public health in addition of roaming dogs in open farms. All studied areas showed high rates
of eggs

A rhabditid Mesorhabditis franseni Fuchs, 1933 (Family, Mesorhabditidae) and
pratylenchid nematode Pratylenchus goodeyi Sher and Allen, 1953 (Family, Pratylenchidae).
They were illustrated by molecular aspects. All specimens of both genera were cultured and
reproduced for DNA extraction. M. franseni (IRQ.ZAh2 PP528819.1 isolate) was
characterized. P. goodeyi (IRQ.ZAh5 PP535537 isolate) was also characterized. Selected
specimens of these two species were molecularly characterized using the partial ITS-rRNA
gene sequences. The ITS-rRNA sequence of IRQ.ZAh2 PP528819.1 isolate had a range of
(98.62%-100%) sequence homology with ITS-rRNA sequence of M. franseni available in
NCBI database. While, the ITS-rRNA sequence o

The humid and warm conditions in greenhouses provide an excellent environment for
pests’ living conditions, and therefore, they provide ideal medium for alien introductions.
Molluscs are among the most significant pests that infest plastic covered greenhouses. To
identify and report their mollusc species, 23 greenhouses in Iraq were surveyed between
March 2023 and April 2024. Of these, 11 were found to be infested with snails. A total of 158
specimens were collected and morphologically identified to seven species: Monacha
obstructa (L. Pfeiffer, 1842), Eobania vermiculata (O.F. Müller, 1774), Xeropicta krynickii
(Krynicki, 1833), Rumina decollata (Linnaeus, 1758), Polygyra cereolus (Megerle Von
Mühlfeld, 1818)

The current study aimed to identify the morphological, histological, and histochemical
composition of the proventriculus and the gizzard of the slender-billed gull Chroicocephalus
genei (Breme, 1839) (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae) using a light microscope.
Morphological analysis revealed that the stomach of the bird is divided into proventriculus
and gizzard. The proventriculus is situated to the left of the body's midline and is completely
encompassed by the liver's left lobe, and appears pear-shaped or elongated oval and has
smooth walls. The gizzard has a pear-shaped muscular organ and is located to the left of the
midline in the lower quarter of the abdominal cavity. The results of histological examination
s

The taxonomic features of the Casuarinaceae family were carefully examined to determine
which characters were most trustworthy for taxonomic delimitation. Morphological
characteristics that represented habit, leaf teeth, article, phyllichnia, male spike, female cone,
samara, and seed were used in our evaluation. Fieldwork revealed that seven taxa were
present, among which four species belonged to the genus Casuarina L., 1759. On the other
hand, herbarium studies identified the previous record of three species belonging to the genus
Allocasuarina L.A.S. Johnson, 1982, nevertheless could not be found in the field. Casuarina
cunninghamiana Miq., 1848 and Casuarina equisetifolia L., 1759 were represented in Egypt
by t

To identify the fungi associated with water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms), an aquatic weed, which presents in Tigris river from Baghdad south ward. Five regions from middle and south of Iraq (Al-Noumanya, Saeid Bin-Jubier, Al-Azizia, Al-Reyfay and Al-Hay) were selected for this study. Twelve fungal species were isolated. Alternaria alternata, Acremonium sp and Cladsporium herbarum, were the most frequently species (91.66 % ,50 % and 25 %) respectively. The fungi Alternaria alternata, Acremonium sp. and Phoma eupyrena were more aggressive to water hyacinth as (91.66%,83,33%, and 75%) in pathogenicity test.

Eleven hymenopterous species: two braconids, seven eulophids and two pteromalids
parasitized the larvae of Phytomyza horticola Goureau. The activity of the parasites began at
the end of April and evidently increased during May. The female of the parasites fed and
parasitized mostly on the second and third larval instars of P. horticola . Diglyphus iseae
Walker and Cirrospilus vittatus Walker were dominant larval parasites. Chrysocharis
pentheus Walker and Pediobius acantha Walker were main pupal parasites.