Occurrence and composition of copepods abundance in Tigris river, southern Baghdad, and effects of Rasheed power plant effluents on its biodiversity

The quantitative and qualitative structure of the Tigris River copepods communities, were identified to investigate the biological composition, especially near the outcome of Rasheed power plant (RPP). on its biodiversity at four sites those were chosen on the Tigris River in south part of Baghdad Governorate during the period January to December 2012. The sites S2 was located near Rasheed Power Plant to represent the ecological features of the plant site, whereas other sites, S1 was located at the upstream of the RPP as a control site to investigate the ecological characters of the Tigris River. Moreover, the two other sites S3 and S4 were located down to the impact of RPP to reflect the possible effects of the plant on the copepoda fauna biodiversity by comparison with the control site. Thirty-nine taxonomic units of copepoda fauna were identified in the present study, Including 17 taxonomic units of Cyclpoida, 13 taxonomic units of Calanoida, six taxonomic units of Harpacyicoida and three taxonomic units of Parasitic Copepoda. This study found that the highest copepod density was recorded during the winter period on site below RPP. While at sites near RPP during the summer period, Copepoda showed the lowest density. The results also showed that the sites below RPP included the most constant species, while the lowest were included at site near RPP. The results of the biodiversity indexes generally showed the negative actual impact of RPP on the copepoda commu nity..