Physio-chemical Propreties and Rotifera Population Density of Darbandikhan Lake, Kurdistan-Iraq

Water samples were collected at regular monthly interval periods beginning in November 2009 to June 2010. The study of Rotifera community has been carried out at five sites including: downstream of the Darbandikhan Lake (Lake Outlet), near the dam (500 m), left shoreline of the Lake, Sirwan River and Tangero River. The physical and chemical properties of water were studied including: water temperature (from 11.9oC to 25.5oC), pH (from 6.55 to 8.60), EC (from 289 &mus/cm to 683 &mus/cm), T.D.S (from 184.90 mg/L to 437.10 mg/L), DO (9.5 mg/L to 1.8 mg/L), BOD5 (from 0.20 mg/L to 8.50 mg/L), Turbidity (from 0.70 NTU to 68.90 NTU) and Total hardness (from 120.10 mg/CaCO3 /l to 355.5 mg/CaCO3 /L). While 14 genus of Rotifera were recorded, the density of Rotifera in the studied sites showed wide fluctuations in their occurrence. It was ranged from 4 to 134 ind/m3. The lower value was recorded in site 5 during January and the higher number was recorded in site 2 during May 2010.