An Ecological Study of the Rotifera of Shatt Al-Arab Region

The ecology of Rotifera of the shatt Al-Arab region was studied. Five stations were chosen, Khalid Birdge (1), Basrah Silo (2), Tanoma Bridge (3), Khirtrad creek (4) and a pond near the college of Engineering (5). Monthly samples were taken by vertical hauls from the bottom to the water surface through 14 months during the period from Feberuary 2007 to March 2008. Monthly horizontal plankton surface samples were also collected from August 2007 to December 2007. To investigation the possible vertical migration of the Rotifera , a 24 hours sampling were taken from 5 selected depth 0.3 m , 1m , 2m , 3m and 4m at station 3 every 2 hours by means of water pump , on 13/14 may 2008 . Daily samples were also collected from the same station (3) at the same depths for 15 days, from 20 may to 3 June 2008, to monitor the short-term differences in the density of Rotifera.