Effect of heated effluents discharged from al-hartha electricity power station on the ecosystem of the Shatt Al-Arab River : II. seasonal variations in abundance and distribution of algae

الملخص EN

Impact of heated effluents, discharged from Al-Hartha electrical power station on availability, abundance and distribution of algae in the Shatt Al-Arab River, was investigated on monthly basis from November 1997 to October 1998.Distance affected by heated wastes was determined by 1250m.

A total of 79 algal species belong to 45 genera were identified.

Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) formed 63 species, green algae (chlorophyta) 14 species and blue green algae (cyanophyta) 12 species, whereas both Euglenophyta and xanthophyta each were represented by one species only.

Discharge points of cooling water accounted for the highest number of species (66 species).

Also a remarkable increase in the total counts of algal cells was encountered closer to the discharge points (2296 cell/cm2) in June.

Diatoms were dominant followed by blue green algae and green algae.

However, blue green algae dominated others near discharge points particularly during summer months