The application of Phytoplankton Index of Biological Integrity (P-IBI) on the Euphrates River (Euphrates Mid-Iraq)

The aim of the present study was to assess the general health of Euphrates River based on Phytoplankton data that collected monthly from May 2013 to April 2014 from different sites of Euphrates. Ten metrics were selected for measuring P-IBI included relative abundance of Pennales, relative abundance of Centrales, relative abundance of Chlorophyceae, relative abundance of Cynophyceae, relative abundance of Pyrrophyceae, relative abundance of Euglenophyceae, relative abundance of Chrysophyceae, Phytoplankton density (cell ×103/l), concentration of Chlorophyll-a (µg/l), and richness index. Results reflected the useful of the evidence to assess the Water's Quality of this river who got the evaluation Poor-Good.