A quantitative study of attached algae on two substrates (natural and artificial)‎ in a lotic ecosystem

Abstract EN

The attached algae have a big role in lotic ecosystems.

This study conducted to explain the different quantity of the attached algae on different substrates.

Two macrophytes were selected as a natural substrate (Certophyllum demersum and Hydrilla verticillata) and artificial substrates and sampling taken monthly, from March 2013 to December 2013 from Tigris river within Al-Jadria campus of the University of Baghdad in the center of Baghdad city.

Four biodiversity indices (Shannon-Weaver, richness, evenness and similarity) were calculated.

The study showed a variation in the total number of attached algae on different substrates.

The higher number of total algae was recorded on artificial substrates (26.68x104 individual/g WW) which represented as 44%.

While the lowest number of benthic algae (8.76 x104 individual/g WW) was on H.

verticllata and expressed as 23%.

Also, different index values recorded on various substrates.