Crassostreacucullata Shells As Indicator to Environmental Changes in The Iraqi Coastlines.

Moutaz A. Al-Dabbas; Mohanad H. Al- Jaberi

Volume : III, Issue : VIII, August - 2014

Crassostreacucullata Shells As Indicator to Environmental Changes in The Iraqi Coastlines.

Moutaz A. Al Dabbas, Mohanad H. Al Jaberi

Abstract :

Surface holes were studied for hundred and sixty-seven of Crassostreacucullata shells that collected from Fadakia, Shatt Al-Basrah, and Iraqi coastlines(RassAlBishah , Khor Abdullah , KhorShytianah , Hacham Island , KhorAlZubair). These shells were studied as environment changes indicator in Iraqi marine territories. There are two main differences between river environment Crassostreacucullata shells and marine shells; the first difference is the abundance and highly distribution of holes on the surface area of Crassostreacucullata shells of river waterthan those shells of marine water. The second is the degree of Crassostreacucullata shells growth, whereas the river shells are smaller and thinner, the marine shells were bigger and thicker. Calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride , iron and trace elements are increase in the marine shells inRassAlBishah , Khor Abdullah , KhorShytianah , Hacham Island , KhorAlZubair compare with the river shells in Fadakia and Shatt AlBasrah areas as a result to increase of these elements in the sea water compare with river water . Phosphor element in Fadakia shells (river shells) is higher than the other shells, which may be probably due to the phosphorus-rich fertilizers transported from agricultural land near for Fadakia area by Shatt Al Arab river. Silica and aluminum elements are increase in Fadakia and RassAlBishahCrassostreacucullata shells (river shells) compare with the marine shells , that may be attributed to surface contamination in river Crassostreacucullata shells, and most of these elements concentrated in the holes of these shells .