Using Diatoms as Bioindicators to Assess AL-Diwaniya River/ Iraq

Abstract

The present study aims to assess AL-Diwaniya river by using diatoms as bioindicators And using PalmerPollution index.Water samples were collected monthly during the period March 2015 to February 2016, Threesites were selected in AL-Diwanhya river. the investigation was to study the physical, chemical and biologicalcharacters in the river, The water of the river was good oxygenated, oligohaline, very hard and alkalinityreturned to the bicarbonate, and results also showed an increase of pollutants especially in third site. It isconcluded that the sewage had an dilution effect for the total hardness, alkalinity, electrical conductivity andsalinity of river.Diatoms species which were identified during study period 170 belong to 34 genera, Centrales12 specieswhich returned to 5 genera, while Pennales158 species belong to 32 genera, The species that have highsnumbers are (Achnanthes, Cymbella, Nitzschia, Navicula). Other types are dominant in their existence andnumber during study period (Cycltella comta, C. Kutzingana, C. meneghiniana, C. Ocellata, Diatoma elongatumand Cocconeis Placentula), according to Palmer Index the water of river was moderate pollution..