dissertation Discussion
The College of Science for Women / University of Baghdad examined the thesis entitled (Morphological and Molecular Identification Study of aquatic Annelids species in Euphrates River ̸ middle of Iraq) of the student (Ilham Obaed Salih), in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of of Doctor of Phylosphy in Biology / Zoology.
The thesis was conducted Morphologically identifying worms to the species level. Confirming the diagnosis of some species previously identified morphologically by relying on molecular diagnosis using the 18S rRNA gene. An attempt to list the species belonging to this group and the possibility of finding species that may be recorded for the first time for the Iraqi fauna. Knowing the evolutionary interrelationships and genetic tree between the species under study, as well as the phylogeny
The study included the selection of 6 sites on the Euphrates River and its branches in the Middle Euphrates region. These sites included S1, located on the Euphrates River in the city of Fallujah, S2, located on the Euphrates River in the city of Musayyib, S3, located on the Husseiniya River, S4, located on the Hindiya River after the Hindiya Dam, S5, located on the Hilla River in the city of Hilla, and finally, S6, located on the Abbasiya River. Samples were collected during the study period, which extended from March 2023 to May 2024. The study also included an analysis of some of the physical and chemical properties of the river water.
1964 individuals of annelids were isolated. The isolated worms included species belonging to the family Aeolosomatidae, in addition to species of the subclass Hirudina and species belonging to the subclass Oligochaeta, with percentages of 1.80%, 7.8% and 90.3% for each, respectively. 26 species were identified from all sites, some of which were associated with aquatic plants. 11 species were recorded for the first time for the Iraqi fauna, 9 of which were confirmed molecularly using the 18S rRNA gene polymerase technique. These species are Barbronia weberi, B. cf. gwalagwalensis, B. borealis, B. arcana, Bimastos eisene, Haplotaxis gordioides, Metaphire houlite, Allonais lardi, Ilyodrilus templetoni, Tubifex blanchardi and Potomothrix heuscheri The study concluded The Euphrates River bed is a rich environment for annelid worms, particularly leeches and oligochaetes. The environmental conditions at the current study sites are suitable for sustaining the worms. Some species have been recorded in the Euphrates River that are not recorded in the Tigris River. , and nine of them were confirmed by partial identification, increasing our knowledge of the diversity of living organisms in Iraq.
Excellent grade.
