Primary productivity in Bahr Al-Najaf depression reservoir-Iraq

Abstract EN

The primary productivity was calculated depending on pelagic and benthic biomass.

Monthly samples were obtained from four study stations (February 2015 to January 2016).

The pelagic primary productivity values were ranged between1.26 mg.

cm-2.

year-1 to4.31mg.

cm-2 .year-1, and benthic primary productivity was ranged between 0.01mg.

cm-2.year-1to 0.12 mg cm-2.year-1.The highest pelagic productivity was observed in spring and the lowest one was in autumn while the highest benthic productivity was obtained in autumn and the lowest productivity in winter.

The highest phytoplankton abundance was observed in spring and the lowest was recorded in summer, while the highest Epipelic abundance was observed in autumn and the lowest in spring.

Statistical analysis showed that spring significantly affect pelagic net primary productivity, while autumn significantly affect benthic net primary productivity