Euglenoids in Haqlan Springs and Euphrates River at Hadithah City, Western Iraq

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the species of euglenoid algae in the Euphrates river and Haqlan valley springs at Al-Anbar province, Western Iraq. Samples were collected in October 2019 from two sites in the study area. Some environmental parameters measured were water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, sulphate, total hardness, total alkalinity, nitrate and phosphate. Fifty-four species of the euglenoids belonging to six genera were encountered, one belonged to Monomorphina, two belonged to Colacium, 19 to Euglena, 10 to Trachelomonas, seven to Lepocinclis and 15 to Phacus. Thirteen species were new records in Iraq. Ten species were recorded in two sites. Most of the euglenoids found in this study occurred in Haqlan springs and were represented by 40 species in comparison to 24 species in the Euphrates river.