INFLUENCE OF SUBMERGED MACROPHYTES ON ZOOPLANKTON BIOMASS IN SOME WATER BODIES SOUTHERN IRAQ

This study aimed to show how submerged macrophytes affect zooplankton biomass. From November 2020 to October 2021, samples of water, plants, and zooplankton were collected monthly from six stations in the Al-Hammar, Al-Chebiyesh Marshes, and Euphrates River. Physical, chemical, and biological water parameters were analysed including water temperature, water current, light penetration, NO3, PO4, Chlorophyll-a, and plant biomass. Zooplankton biomass was estimated as wet weight, dry weight, and displacement volume. Water temperature ranged from 13 °C to 33 °C in February and August; water’s current ranged from 0.02 to 0.52 m/sec in November and February. Light penetration ranged from 7 to 218 cm in November and February, NO3 ranged from 2.3 to 6.4 mg/L in August and February, PO4 ranged from 0.24 to 0.76 mg/L in August and February, Chlorophyll-a ranged from 5.01 to 19.13 µg/L in February and September. Plant biomass ranged from 40.89 to 1120.6 gm DW/m2. In stations with submerged macrophytes, zooplankton biomass as dry weight ranged from 4.1 to 100.7 gm/m3. Wet weight ranged from 3.4 to 128.31 gm/m3 in February and October respectively. The biomass ranged from 1.2 to 7.6 gm/m3 DW and 1.75 to 9.3 gm DW/m3 in February and October respectively. In contrast, in stations with submerged macrophytes and those without, the displacement volume ranged from 0.08 to 0.92 mL/m3 and 0.11 to 1.01 mL/m3 in February and October.