Vertical distribution of phytoplankton in Habbaniya lake , Iraq

Abstract EN

The study includes the distribution of phytoplankton in water column of Habanera lake during 1996 and 1997.

A total of 116 taxa of phytoplankton were identified.

The diatoms were the dominated by 70 taxa represented 60.3% of the total identified species.

Followed by green algae (chlorophyta) of 30 taxa 25.8%, and then blue-green algae (cyanophyta) of 12 taxa 10.3%.

Little increasing of cells count was recorded at 10 meter depth and without regular seasonal variation .Few species were dominated during the most studied period such as Aulacosiera granulate , Cyclotella ocellata , Navicula cryptocephala and Nitzschia palea.