Identifying and Measuring Biophilic Planning Indicators in Riverside Neighborhoods

Biophilic planning is one of the important trends in achieving sustainability and nature conservation, especially in areas that contain natural elements. Since in the case of climate change and urban encroachment on natural habitats, taking care of nature and investing its components properly is a necessity, not a choice. As well as the agreement among many researchers about the social, economic and environmental benefits provided by biophilic planning, which is based mainly on the idea of connecting people with nature. This study aims to provide a guide to planners, urban designers, and decision-makers, including how to deal with residential neighborhoods that contain natural elements such as rivers by depending on a specific methodology based on previous literature and deriving effective indicators in this type of neighborhood. The results of the theoretical framework showed that there are eleven effective indicators, some of which are measured by descriptive methods and some by quantitative methods. These indicators have been applied in one of the neighborhoods of the Iraqi Kufa City overlooking the Euphrates River. The results showed that the study area lacks standards and indicators of biophilic planning. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-01-03 Full Text: PDF

Detection of contamination by some trace elements in the muscles of Carassius auratus (Linnaeus) collected from the Euphrates River / Central Iraq

The study involved measuring the concentration of seven trace elements (Cd , Pb , Zn , Fe , Mn , Se and Ni) In edible tissues of three classes of different weight and height of Carassius auratus (Linnaeus) collected from three sites of the Euphrates River, which Al- Hindiya barrage (first site) and Touirij (second location) and the Kifil (third site), for the period from Spring 2015 to Winter 2016 , and included also The study also estimated the concentrations of the trace elements studied in river water, in both dissolved and particular form , as well as exiamining of some physio- chemical properties of water river , which variations depended on the different both sites and seasons The Findings of the present study indicated seasonal changes in the concentration of trace elements studied in both water forms (dissolved and particular form) and in fish muscle in the three locations of the current study. These were noticed that the level of trace elements in the third group, the contrast of the first and second categories was strong, and the finding found a clear link between the length and weight of the fish and the concentration of the fish as elements of concentration increases with increasing length and weight . The results founded that the concentrations of trace elements studied the particular form of higher compared to dissolved form as well as to the effective of certain physical and chemical properties of water such as Temperature, pH, Electrical conductivity and salinity on the concentration of these trace elements.

Contribution to the trout of Euphrates River, with description of a new species, and range extension of Salmo munzuricus (Salmoniformes, Salmonidae)

In an effort to reveal the Euphrates trout taxonomy, the Karasu River, which is one of the eastern drainages of the river, was investigated and three independent populations were identified. Result revealed that two populations belonged to Salmo munzuricus, which was known only in Munzur River, while the other population belonged to an unnamed species. Salmo baliki, a new species, is described from the Murat River, a drainage of Euphrates River. It differs from Salmo species in adjacent water by the combination of the following characters: a grayish body; commonly one, rarely two pale black spots behind eye and on cheek; two to seven black spots on opercle; a few black spots on back and upper part of flank, missing on predorsal area; few to numerous large irregular-shaped red spots in median, upper and lower part of flank, surrounded by a large irregular-shaped white ring; the number of black and red spots not increasing in parallel with size; maxilla short and narrow; adipose-fin medium size, no or rarely one or two red spot its posterior edge; 107–118 lateral line scales; 24–28 scales rows between dorsal-in origin and lateral line; 18–22 scale rows between lateral line and anal–fin origin; maxilla length 7.7–9.1% SL in males, 8.2–9.6 in females. Finally, the genetic study of the Cyt b mitochondrial gene confirmed the morphological data, suggesting the separation of S. baliki from other Salmo species.

Water scarcity will boost Turkey-Syria-Iraq tensions

Significance Large-scale water capture in Turkish dams upstream has caused long-term shortages elsewhere in the Tigris and Euphrates river basin, notably eastern Syria and southern Iraq. Competition for water resources intersects with existing ethno-religious tensions across the riparian countries. Impacts The political fragility of the Syrian and Iraqi states will be exacerbated by rising conflict over scarce water resources. Iran may seek to intervene on behalf of Shia Arabs in the Iraqi south. Turkey may experience future internal conflict with the Kurdish minority on whose land new dams have been constructed. Regional water scarcity could drive further migration to Europe.

Impact of Hindiya Dam on Rotifera Community of Euphrates River on the Northern of Babil Governorate, Iraq

This study was the first of its kind on the Hindiya Dam, which is considered one of the important dams in Euphrates River. Five sites were chosen on the north of Babil Governorate in order to know the rotifers biodiversity features and the impact of the Hindiya Dam on it's during the 2019. Site2(S2) was located near the dam to reflect the rotifers diversity of this site, whereas , S1 was located at the upstream of the dam as a control site, and S3, S4 and S5 were located down the dam. Rotifers showed higher density average at Hindiya Dam site compared with sites downstream the dam which was 9164 Ind./m3, whereas density average at the site downstream the dam was 5540 Ind./m3, site (downstream the dam ) decreased clearly compared with the dam site. It was showing the relative abundance index of rotifers: Keratella cochlearis was with the highest percentages followed by Rotaria neplunia, Syncheta oblonga and K. valga at the sites of study area. The study confirmed that the dam reservoir was the source of pelagic rotifers for the outflowing river which led to increase species numbers about 104 species of rotifers. The average values of species richness index of rotifers declined from 1.64 at Hindiya Dam site to 1.58 at site below the dam. Euphrates River rotifers were considered generally from moderate richness to disturbed during 2019 in study area. Site 3(downstream the dam) had the lowest similarity values with site 5 which was 47.5% in rotifers group. Whereas, the highest Jaccard similarity index percentage was between sites 1 with 4 which reached to 76.2%. The Shanon- Weiner index of rotifers reported average values at the dam site 1.7 and 1.8 bit/Ind. at site below the dam. Also, the average values uniformity index of rotifers increased from 0.6 at Hindiya Dam site to 0.7 at site downstream the dam. Euphrates River rotifers were considered generally as little diversified because of index value was ranged from 1 to 2 during 2019 in study area. According to uniformity index values, Euphrates River rotifers were considered generally from unbalanced to moderate balanced in study area. The constant species of rotifers showed that constant species were 8 at the dam site. While, it decreased to 7 constant species at site (downstream the dam). It was concluded that Hindiya Dam had a great effect on the spatial composition of the rotifers community related to the change in the hydrological conditions from current water in site1 to limnetic basins in site 2 (the dam reservoir) then again to current water at site 3, 4 and 5 downstream the dam.

Effect of Discharge on Water Quality in Euphrates River Between Hit and Ramadi, Iraq

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between water drainage rates in Hit and Ramadi cities and the water quality of the Euphrates River. The studied area of Euphrates River extends from Hit to Ramadi, where two sampling stations were selected monthly in 2012, 2013, and 2018. The results indicate variations and decreasing in the monthly discharge rate of the study period; the year 2012 had higher discharge rate values than 2013, which in turn was higher than in 2018, for both gauging stations. Our results indicate that with decreasing discharge trends, some selected water quality parameters had an increasing trend. During the selected years, there was an increase in levels of sulfate, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, magnesium, and turbidity in the Ramadi station compared to the Hit station, as the rate of discharge of the river increases in the former. A positive significant correlation between discharge rate and dissolved oxygen and dissolved solids were reported. The Haditha Dam and its reservoir affect the downstream discharge rate and in turn the water quality at Hit and Ramadi Cities.

On The Evaluation of Water Quality Index: Case Study of Euphrates River, Iraq

This study is used the water quality index (WQI), which is generated by combining several water quality parameters. This index gives a helpful representation of overall water quality for the public and all intended applications, and it demonstrates that pollution is beneficial in water quality management and decision-making. The Euphrates River was assessed in order to determine the quality of drinking water. The Euphrates River was assessed for drinking water quality using the WQI, which includes ten physicochemical water quality criteria. This was achieved by submitting comprehensive physicochemical analysis of water samples collected from 5 stations in the city of Hit-Iraq during 2020-2021. The ten physicochemical parameters included: pH value, Nitrate (NO3), Sulphate (SO4­), Turbidity, temperature, Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), electric conductivity (EC) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). This was accomplished by submitting a full physicochemical analysis of water samples obtained from 5 sites in Hit, Iraq, between 2020 and 2021. The results of the present study show, the total average WQI was 110,156. The high WQI achieved is caused by the high TDS and magnesium concentration due to the different human activities along the river reach. The Euphrates River quality is classified as 'very poor quality' with a minimum WQI of 97.85 in June and 121.75 in November.