Ostracoda and charophyte as indicators of environmental varity in the marshland area of southern Iraq

Abstract EN

Ostracoda is considered an excellent indicator of environmental variety, particularly in a confusing area such as marshland of southern Iraq.

The substrate of study area consists of mud, sandy silt and silt deposits, and the origin of sediments varied among fluvial, aeolian and marine.

The study of ostracoda and the assistance charophyte remains revealed the presence of three biofacies; estuarine E, marsh M and backswamp B.

The E and M facies exhibit the effect of sea water, while B biofacies of the ostracoda species and sediments type display the existence of fresh water influence and could believes it is a part of Maymouna Formation.