QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE VARIABILITY OF EPIPHYTIC ALGAE ON THREE AQUATIC PLANTS IN EUPHRATES RIVER, IRAQ

The epiphytic algae were studied on three aquatic plants (Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum verticillatum and Potamogeton pectinatus) from seven stations in Euphrates River between Hindia barrage Al-Kufa city-Iraq, during summer 2004 spring 2005. A total of (97) species identified, diatoms dominant their number (73% the number), followed by chlorophyta, then cyanophyta Euglenophyta. Variations recorded among host macrophyte, as well as, different seasons for each plant. biomass varied plant host, dominated several genera have large Cymbella, Gomphonema, Nitzschia Synedra. Most showed high population density.