Spatial variation of composition and distribution of fish in two sites on Euphrates river, middle of Iraq

الملخص EN

The paper deal with composition and distribution of fish in two sites from Euphrates River-middle.

of Iraq between Hindiya barrage and AL-Kifll city.

The study carried out monthly sampling from Oct.2009 to Sept.2010.

A total of (1558) individuals belonging to (19) species and (5) families were collected in study periods from study sites.

The results showed high number in AL-kifil site (968 fishes)more than AL-Hindia barrage.(590 fishes).

Most abundance species due to the family cyprinodae (15 species).

The species recorded in study area range between rare species (Alburnus caeruleus, Mystus pelusius)and dominate species such as (Barbus luteus ; Crassius auratus ; Cyprinus carpio and Liza abu).

The highest values of diversity corresponding to the samples from station 1.

The differences in the species richness, relative abundance, and mean fish weight were also indicative of distinctive characteristics between these fish assemblages in study area.