Some Ecological Characteristics of Um-Al-Naaj Marsh, Southern Iraq in the Second Most Driest Season during the Last 40 Years

The current study was conducted in one of the most important wetlands in the Middle East and Iraq, the Um-Al-Naaj Marsh, which represents a part of the Huwaiza marsh in Misan Province. This study aimed to evaluate some environmental characteristics in the second driest rainfall season during the last forty years in the Um-Al-Naaj Marsh. Duding the period from 03/11/2020 to 21/07/2021, samples were collected from the studied sites on a seasonal basis, covering four stations in autumn, winter, and spring, and two stations in summer. Some environmental variables were measured (NO3, PO4, Ca, Mg, Cl, K, and Na). Results showed that most of the average values of the environmental characteristics were high in summer, as the values of nitrate and phosphate reached 14.50 ‎and 0.056mgL^-1, respectively, and those of calcium and magnesium were the highest in the same season reaching 182.5 and 97.66mgL^-1, respectively. The same season witnessed the highest average values for potassium and sodium, with values of 19.8 and 272mgL^-1, respectively. On the other hand, values of 1064.5mgL^-1 and 819.66 mgL^-1 were recorded for chloride in the spring and summer seasons, respectively. The data presented in this study showed that almost high concentrations of nutrients, cations and anions were recorded in the driest year (2021). Such ecological changes may have potential effect on the composition of marsh ecosystem.