New Records of Non-Diatom Algae in Aquatic Habitat along Greater Zab River Path from Bekhma to Gwer District in Erbil Province, Iraq

: A study of non-diatom algal species composition in twelve sites from Greater Zab River path within Erbil Province, was carried out from April 2021 to January 2022 with monthly sample collection in twelve studied sites. Among them site 4,5,6,7 and 9 are the first for algal study in this area. The 112 different species of algae belong to 33 genera, 25 families, 13 orders and 4 divisions have been identified. The predominant genera included Spirogyra and Cosmarium 17, 8 taxa respectively. 13 taxa were new recorded to Iraqi Kurdistan algal flora and 9 of them were new recorded to Iraqi algal flora: Botryosphaerella sudetica, Muriella magna, Gloeotaenium loitlesbergianum, Apiocystis brauniana, Anabaena oscillarioides, C. distentum, C. tutum, C. contractum var. minutum, kirchneriella irregularis, Oedogonium suecicum f. australe, Coelastrum indicum, Oocystis lacustris, and Pediastrum braunii . Also, there were three new genera for Iraqi algal flora which including: Botryosphaerella , Muriella and Apiocystis. A brief description as well as the measurement is given for each species. Water temperatures ranged from 17.3 to 20.08 ºC, hydrogen ion concentration and electrical conductivity value ranged from 7.44 to 7.88 and 433.20 to 721.56 μS.cm -1 for all studied sites respectively. The aim of this study is to identify algal taxa in studied sites.


Introduction:
Aquatic algae are extremely diverse creatures that live in all types of natural settings where there is water, food, and light, aquatic environment, algae show a clear response to changes in the characteristics of the water.Freshwater algae are frequently used for assessment and monitoring water quality 1 .Algae, like other microorganisms, are regarded as cosmopolitan due to their tiny size, great abundance, rapid population growth, and long-range migration since they occur in a variety of habitats and are distributed globally 2 .Due to its high biomass productivity, Chlorophyta, popularly known as sea lettuce, has been suggested as a model species for land-based aquaculture 3 .Algal growth rates are accelerated by warming, and algal species with high temperature growth maxima are favored 4 .In Iraq there are numerous research papers on algal identification and classification [5][6][7][8][9] .In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, studies on algal flora have attracted more attention, although there are numerous research papers on algal identification and classification 10 .
Up to date, according to final algae check list for the Iraqi Kurdistan Region 11 , 1812 taxa of the algal flora in all were recorded.Also, in Iraq a total of 2647 taxa were reported 12 .Algal content of this study's samples was three springs, three ponds and six rivers within Erbil province were considered.The goal of the current study is to have advance knowledge of the distribution of algae in these aquatic habitats.More recently, a number of algal new record study was added to Iraqi algal flora [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] .Algae depend on a variety of environmental parameters, including temperature, pH, and others, to grow and reproduce 5 .1] .Twelve sites (rivers, springs and ponds) along Greater Zab River were selected to algal abundance, distribution and classification from from Bekhma to Gwer district in Erbil province.All the studied sites are about 95 km long (Table .1, Fig. 1).

2-Algal Collection, Preservation and Identification
Samples of planktonic or floating microalgae were collected with phytoplankton mesh net 20 µm, stored in vials 50-100 ml, while benthic algae which includ epilithic algal samples were collected by removing stone and scrape surface by spatula, forceps and tooth brush, and algae which live on surface macrophytes (epiphytic algal taxa) for example Oedogonium suecicum f. australe was collected on macrophytes by scrape algae then placed in a tube with water and preservative of algal samples.The collected samples at each site were added to two airtight polylab vial.One of them was preserved with 1 ml Lugol's solution.Flagellated forms of algae were identified before algal fixation as soon as possible because of their loss of taxonomic characters 22 .Then each sample was labeled and then brought to the laboratory 23 .Different species were taken using a microscope digital camera (Model Number: SCMOS05100KPB).The new records based on the most recent checklist of the algae in

A B
Iraqi Kurdistan Region by 11 .A precise glass mercury thermometer 0-100 ˚C was used in the field to monitor the water's temperature.A portable pH meter (JENWAY 3505) and a portable EC meter were used to electrometrically measure pH and EC in the field (HANNA instruments, HI98303).

Results and Discussion:
This study was conducted on a monthly basis over a period of ten months, from April 2021 to January 2022.Site 4, 5, 6 and 7 are sites taken for the first time for studying algal in this area.A total of 112 algal species belong to 33 genera, 25 families, 13 orders and 4 divisions were identified, among them 13 taxa were new records to Kurdistan region of Iraq and Iraqi algal flora.Each sample site's data on water temperature, EC, and pH have a significant effect on algal growth, also to grow and reproduce 5 .Three Cosmarium are new additions and for each of the remaining genera, only one new record was observed with 23.076 % and 7.692 %, Table .3. It is clear that a total of 13 new algal record were identified in 11 genera, 8 families, 8 orders, 3 classes and 2 divisions, Table .5. The geology of the region, seasonal fluctuations, and environmental factors such as water temperature, pH and EC might all contribute to the disparities between the numerous species observed in the study sites 24 .The results of the present study of water temperature, pH and EC were in accordance with the result of [25][26][27][28][29][30] .The cause of the dispersion of algae and one explanation for the occurrence and dominance of a particular population of algae in habitats throughout the year is their capacity for adaptation.Algae are among the organisms that can withstand stress and environmental changes, and some varieties can withstand changes in temperature, pH, and other environmental factors 8 .The findings of this research agree with a study by 25,26 , that highlighted the fact that algae create specialized spores, defensive or tolerant spores, and a variety of chemical compounds to protect them from UV light, high radiation, and desiccation.

Description of the New Records
Non-diatom algal forms were identified using the references of: [31][32] .Botryosphaerella sudetica (Lemmerman) P.C.Silva 1970 Colonies about 80 µm wide, cells ovoid, up to 10 µm wide, with thin remnants of mother cell wall material persisting within mucilage following autospore release 32 .Forms small colonies, with cells arranged in group (Fig. 2A).This species inhabits pond as plankton is obtained in site nine (18 Sep 2021: water temperature 20.4 °C, pH 7.42, EC 631μS.cm - ) Table .2. Muriella magna F.E.Fritsch et R.P. John 1942  Cells are up to 20 µm wide, spherical or broadly ellipsoid, chloroplast initially in pairs, later divided into several trough-shaped portions, with age dis-like and polygonal, always densely packed, autospores unknown, akinetes uo to 90 µm wide, with thick, stratified walls 32 (Fig. 2B) which was obtained from site seven (18 May 2021: water temperature 20.3°C, pH 7.41, EC 457 μS.cm-1)Table 2, occupies as benthos in the spring.

Apiocystis brauniana Nageli 1849
It is a colonial mucilage that has developed and resembles a sack, it is made up of cells and is linked at one end to solid substrates like aquatic plants.6.8 to 11.3 µm wide cells.The individual cells have smooth walls, are spherical, and have chloroplasts that resemble cups.The cells have lengthy pseudocilia despite not being motile.The cells split into 4-cell subgroups, but because they prefer to spread inside the colonial sack, it is difficult to identify the subgroups (Fig. 2D).This species was found in pond as plankton, in site four (18 Oct 2021: water temperature 19.2 °C, pH 7.48, EC 570μS.cm - ), Table 2. Trichomes have spherical or oval heterocysts, small, blue-green barrel-shaped cells, and are straight or slightly curved.Cells are with 3.4-5.5 µm in width and 3.2-4.6µm in length.The adult akinetes are smooth and elliptical or cylindrical (not spiny).The akinetes have heterocysts near both of their ends, and the trichomes frequently have several akinetes in succession (Fig. 3A).The specimens of this species are taken from ponds in site seven where they are free-floating (18 May 2021: water temperature 20.3°C, pH 7.41, EC 457μS.cm - ), Table 2.

Cosmarium distentum (G.S. West) Coesel & Meesters 2015
Cells are 14-18 µm long, 11-15 µm wide, and have an isthmus of 3-4 µm.The stated diagnostic of Cosmarium laeve Rabenh has a reduced cell length to breadth ratio.Semi cells are broadly oval from a broad base, with a rounded or slightly truncate tip, and a conspicuous tubercle in the middle.The cell wall has tiny punctures in it (Fig. 3B).This species was presented in spring as benthic in site six (18 July 2021: water temperature 19.2 °C, pH 7.34, EC 687 μS.cm -1 ), Table .2. Grönblad (1945)  Cells 72.9-80.7 µm length, 72.2-80.5 µm breadth with length: breadth ratio of 0.95-1.07,42.6-46.0µm thickness, and isthmus of 38.5-42.7 µm, sub-circular, apex slightly truncate, sinus is always closed and moderately deep (isthmus equals half of the cell breadth).Semicell semicircular with broadly rounded basal angles the wall of which is provided with an outer, hyaline).A thickened zone with scattered, large (approx. 1 µm in diameter) about 30 in number is to be seen in the centre of the semicell.The surface of this zone looks smooth in optical microscope, and all pore openings are inside scrobicles.Semicell one dicentric furcate chloroplast (Fig. 3C).This species existed in spring from site seven (18 Aug. 2021: water temperature 21.0 °C, pH 7.65, EC 668 μS.cm -1 ), Table    The cells are twisted so that their ends are not in the same plane and might be either sharply pointed or very slightly rounded (Fig. 4A).These taxa dwelled in spring from site five (18 Apr 2021: water temperature 20.0°C, pH 7.46, EC 480 μS.cm -1 ), Table 2.

Pediastrum braunii Wartmann 1862
Colony has a circular shape, is virtually complete but has a few interstices, has 4-16 quadrate or 5-sided cells, and the periphery cells have 3-4 short, unevenly spaced sharp projections 32 .The walls do not have any projections or incisions.The cells are 9-12 µm in diameter (Fig. 4E).It is found in spring and pond and was collected

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Shows: A) Map of Iraq and Erbil province; (B) Map of studied area and the sampling the site of study in greater Zab river (Basemap in ArcGIS).

1-Description of Studied Sites
This work was carried out in Erbil Province which is locates between the latitude of 35 o 40' and 30 o 30' N, and longitude 43 o 20' and 44 o 20' E. Greater Zab River is a large river in Kurdistan

Baghdad Science Journal P-ISSN: 2078-8665 Published Online First: March, 2023 2023, 20(5 Suppl.): 1892-1900 E-ISSN: 2411-7986 2981
Region of Iraq.Erbil Province is situated between 36 o -37 o north latitudes and 43 o -44 o east longitude.Many authors provide descriptions of the geology, water resources and climate in the studied area of Erbil Province