Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity (New Recording of Two Species, Shrimp Penaeus Semisulcatus and Fish Pterois Volitans) in the Shat Al-Basra Channel - Basra, Iraq

The case of climate change that occurred during the year 2008 in the waters of southern Iraq was studied, especially in the waters of the Shatt al-Basra canal and the accompanying appearance of some aquatic animals to places where they did not exist previously, such as shrimp Penaeus semisulcatus and a fish Pterois volitans. Temperatures reached more than 50 degrees Celsius during the summer months, with an increase in salinity levels that ranged between 40 to 80 parts per thousand in the Iraqi internal waters in general and the waters of the Shatt al-Basra channel in particular, and different sizes of shrimps ranged between 3cm to 16cm. While the length of the fish the catch is 25cm.

Samples were collected from shrimp and sea chicken fish along the Shatt al-Basra channel. As shrimp samples were collected by P. semisulcatus in the far north of the canal at the Dabbab area near the Abu Sakhir-Garma Ali area, while samples from the fish P. volitans were collected near the regulator area (water quantities regulator) with the help of fishermen. A boat equipped with a motor, and some environmental conditions, including salinity, were measured by a salinemater and temperature using a mercury thermometer, and the longest shrimp and fish were measured using the foot (an electronic ruler). The classification of samples was based on shrimp and fish classification sources.

These two conditions occurred as a result of climate change that occurred in the internal Iraqi waters in general and the water of the Shatt Basra channel in particular, during the year 2008 and this is due to many reasons, including the lack of rain and high temperatures in addition to the closure of the source (source) that supplies the Shatt Basra channel with fresh water On the Nassiriya side, all of these reasons led to the high salinity levels of the canal water to the point where the levels ranged between 40 to 80 parts per thousand, which is higher than the ranges of the salinity of the marine waters that have been saluted up to 35 parts per thousand, and different sizes of shrimp have been recorded.

semisulcatus can be distinguished from the rest of the local shrimp and is found with it in the same region is through the snout that has two teeth (2-4) in the abdominal side, while the fish of the sea cock is classified. While, P. volitans easily through its distinct appearance, having 18 cylindrical forks, including: 13 dorsal, 3 anal spines and 2 abdominal spines, and sea chicken is characterized by being a slow-moving fish with good hiding, characterized by the beauty of its shape and may carry toxic glands in its thorns as a result The environment of its presence, and this case is rare because it settles in coral reefs in the waters of the Arabian Gulf and does not enter the internal waters (Shatt Al-Basra Channel), and recording the presence of this fish in this current studied area is a unique case as a result of climate change and faded with the disappearance of the temporal state of change. The same explanation applies to recorded shrimp. The only difference is that shrimps are naturally present in Iraqi territorial and coastal waters and in Khor Al-Zubayr, while rooster fish are rare in Iraqi waters because they are found in coral reefs and is the first registration in Iraqi waters.

I highlighted the impact of climate change on biodiversity in our marine waters in general and a recording of two types of aquatic animals with this study, and what is worth mentioning is that I recorded in the year 2015 the presence of shrimp Latreutes anoplonyx and also recorded in 2017 shrimp Alpheus edwardsii in our territorial waters from the northwest of the Gulf Al-Arabi, and the reason for his presence, was mentioned due to the climate change that prevailed in the region. In addition to registering for many other invertebrates, especially cabbages, in and near the same waters. Which generates an idea for research or a book that must be prepared to collect in a scientifically studied manner in which it clarifies the original species present in our marine waters, then explains the alien species that have settled and those migratory species that existed in a place at some time and disappear if the reason for its removal and others to be useful for those interested in the biological diversity of researchers and others.