Doctoral Dissertation
The College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, discussed the PhD dissertation entitled “Assessment of the Water Quality of the Tigris River within Baghdad City Using Some Geographic Information System Applications and the Epipelic Algae Community,” submitted by the student Sarah Hussein Jabbar in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Life Sciences, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Jinan Shawi Al-Hassani and Prof. Dr. Fouad Kadhim Mashi.
Objectives of the Dissertation
- The study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of water pollution in the Tigris River within Baghdad City by integrating physicochemical water analysis, heavy-metal and sediment geochemistry, and epipelic algae communities with multiple pollution and environmental indices, alongside the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and satellite remote-sensing techniques to characterize the spatial and seasonal distribution of pollution. Water and sediment samples were collected from four sites along the river course within Baghdad during the dry and wet seasons, and physicochemical parameters, heavy metals, and epipelic algae communities were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively.
Content of the Dissertation
- The results identified 170 algal species belonging to 49 genera, with the class Bacillariophyceae dominant at 63.53%, confirming its environmental sensitivity and value as a bioindicator. Diatom indices pointed to moderate environmental conditions, while the Shannon diversity index indicated high biological diversity. The Iraqi Water Quality Index (IWQI) classified water quality at the studied sites as poor to very poor, while sediment quality standards (QSm) placed all sites within the third, hazardous-to-aquatic-life category. Pollution and environmental risk generally peaked during the rainy season, and GIS-based spatial interpolation confirmed a steady increase in pollution intensity downstream. While heavy-metal contamination generally remained at low to moderate levels, sediment quality and biological indicators revealed significant environmental stress, particularly at the downstream sites.
Recommendation of the Dissertation
- The study recommended continuous environmental monitoring of the Tigris River, the implementation of effective pollution-control measures, and the adoption of integrated management strategies to improve water quality and protect the river’s aquatic ecosystem, together with expanded use of Geographic Information Systems and remote-sensing techniques in future studies to monitor the spatial and seasonal distribution of pollution.
Final Grade of the Dissertation
Final Grade: Excellent
Picture of the Committee members
