Assessment of trophic status of three ecosystems in southern Iraq based on The Trophic State Index (TSI)

Abstract

Aquatic ecosystems are under increasing pressure from direct and indirect human activities, their areas and conditions continue to deteriorate, so many of them require treatment to maintain main functions and associated ecosystem services. Good water quality paramount to supporting the life of the organism. This study aimed to assess the trophic state of some water bodies. Eastern Hammar marsh, Al-Chebiyesh marsh, and Euphrates River. Carlson's index used CTSI which collects three variables that affect the level of trophic status in the water body (chlorophyll a, total phosphorus, and water transparency) Sampling was carried out from six stations two stations for each water body during period extended from November 2020 to October 2021. Water temperature, depth, turbidity, light penetration, Chl-a, and total phosphorus are the indicators monitored. The classification of stations varied according to TSIchl-a, TSISD and TSITP. The trophic status index CTSI values compared with Carlson and Simpson (1996) and shown The Eastern Hammar and Al-Chebiyesh were classified as Mesotrophic with values (46.1-45.9) respectively and the Euphrates classified as Oligotrophic with value (37.1).