Epipelic Diatoms as Bioindicators to Assess the Water Quality Status of Baghdad Tourist Island Lake -Iraq

Abstract

The study aims to assess the water quality of the Baghdad Island Lake Tourist Lake by epipelic diatoms for the period from October 2021 to May 2022. Three sites were chosen in the lake waters located within the Baghdad governorate sector. A group of physical and chemical factors and a qualitative and quantitative study of epipelic diatoms were studied. Four biological indices were carried out to assess water quality, namely, the Saprobic index (SI), the Palmer pollution index (PPI), the pollution tolerance index (PTI), and the Trophic diatomic index (TDI). As well as conducting the Canadian Water Quality Index for Living Aquatic Life. The results of the current study showed that the water quality of the Baghdad island lake for tourism is mesosaprobic to polysaprobic and mesotrophic. In contrast, the lake water quality was described as marginal and threatening to the livelihood of aquatic organisms, with the agreement of the results of biological indices With the results of physical and chemical tests for the quality of the lake water.