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1.
Department of Environmental Marine Chemistry.
2.
Department of Marine physics.
3.
Department of Marine Geology.
4.
Department of Marine Biology.
5.
Department of Marine Vertebrates.
6.
7.
The centre is currently involved in
research projects coordinated with the different interested parties in
Iraq. This co-ordination between the centre and other non-Iraqi
organizations interested in the protection of marine environment is
progressing satisfactorily especially that with the Regional
Organization for Protection of Marine Environment (ROPME), Kuwait
Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), The Department of Oceanography
University of Qatar, The University of Petroleum and Minerals/ Saudi
Arabia.
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The centre has strong ties with UNESCO and has represented the Iraqi National Oceanographic Commission on the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Executive Council.
The coordination with the previous
mentioned organizations was badly affected along the last 13 years due
to the circumstances of wars and embargo.
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The Department of Environmental Marine Chemistry
(DEMC)
DEMC is concerned with
the following objectives:
1- Establishing
baseline data on oceanography and the marine environmental quality of
Iraq territorial waters within the Arabian Gulf and on the hydrographic
of Shatt Al-Arab area.
2- Undertaking
applied scientific research relating to the national development of
aquatic environmental protection.
3-
Undertaking
scientific and technological researches and consultations for other
governmental agencies.
4- Following
up on new developments relating to the field of marine chemistry and
adapting them to the local environment.
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At the present time, the department is
composed of the following laboratories:
1-
Gas
chromatographs.
2-
High
performance liquid chromatographs.
3-
Atomic
absorption spectrophotometers lab.
4-
Marine
bacteria lab.
5-
Water
analysis lab.
6-
Marine
pollution lab, and
7-
Environmental pollution lab.
Basically, Bacteria lab is interested in doing the bacteriological
analysis, which are: total plate count, total coliform, fecal
coliform and all types of pathogenic bacteria, and the mycological
examination such as total count.
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On the other hand, chemical analysis as
Dissolved oxygen, Biological oxygen demand, Chemical oxygen demand, PH,
Conductivity, Total nitrogen, Total solid suspended, Total dissolved
suspended, Total organic matter, Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic, Copper,
Vanadium, Aluminum, Chrome, Titanium, Potassium, Nitrate, Magnesium,
Calcium, Bicarbonate, Carbonate, Chloride, Phosphate, Sulfate, Boron and
Silica are done by Atomic absorption spectrophotometers labs. While
marine pollution lab is specialized in doing the estimation of
hydrocarbon & organic components.
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The Department of Marine
Physics
The department is interested in
studying the physical nature of the Arabian- Gulf and the related
waterways as Khor Al-Abdullah, Khor Al-Zubair, Basrah Cannel, Shatt
Al-Arab River and Shatt Al-Arab Estuary. Also, it focused on studying
the hydrodynamic, mixing and circulation of the water masses in those
positions.
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Besides, the department acts on recording
the variation of sea level and tidal level in the previous mentioned
areas and in doing hydrographic survey. Again, it studies the effects of
weather conditions on sea surface especially in the areas that surrounds
the Iraqi ports.
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The Department of Marine Geology
This department undertakes scientific researches related to the
marine and inland environments. Its main tasks are to perform geological
investigations, surveys and geological mapping of the Arabian Gulf and
the surrounding regions. At the present time, the department is composed
of the following laboratories:
1.
The Laboratory of
Sedimentology: It conducts geological and sedimentological researches
and mapping. It is also engaged in Subikah and Ahwar sedimental studies
connected with mapping. Sampling is underway in two areas; Khor
Al-Zubair and Shatt Al-Arab River.
2. The
Laboratory of Hydrology: It conducts hydrological studies and mapping.
Its main tasks are to analyze and to study the physical and chemical
properties of fresh, brackish and marine waters. Also, it’s concerned
with the evaluating and classifying of water resources in the region.
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3. The
Laboratory of Engineering Geology: The lab is concerned generally
with oil tests, the main tests include the measurement of Atterberg
limits, Proctor tests and shearing strength tests. It achieves its field
works along with Geophysics Lab.
4. The
Laboratory of Environmental Geology: It is interested in studying the
Paleo- Environment of Mesopotamia and the surrounding regions. Also,
It’s interested in studying the new tectonic studies by the means of
remote sensing and evaluating of sediment history and mineralogy.
5. The
Workshop of Thin-Section: it works on making thin sections of different
kinds of rocks and individual grain. Also, it organizes occassional
training courses on this concern.
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The Department
of Marine Biology
The main interest of this department is to survey the fauna and
flora of the Southern part of Iraq and the Arabian Gulf. Special
interests are focused upon primary production, taxonomy and distribution
of phytoplankton, and secondary production, diversity and distribution
of Rotifers, Gladocerans, Freshwater and marine Copepods.
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Other lines of interest, which were
established in the department, are the taxonomy and the biology of
intertidal on benthic invertebrates. Bioenergetics researches on
crustacea and other invertebrates are also being carried out in this
department. Recently, the department has established two new labs, which
are the Aquaculture lab and Biotechnology lab. These labs promote
researches on algal, rotifers, daphoms and artimea culture.
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This department actively promotes
the interests of fish biology, aquaculture and stock assessment. It
offers a comprehensive programme covering major areas of ecological
study in the marine water zone, khor Al- Zubair and also in the Arabian
Gulf.
Its principle
aims are:
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1-
To give a
reliable picture of the biological aspects of commercial fish species
such as growth characteristics, reproduction life cycles, as well as its
population dynamics.
2- To
study fish stocks assessment in both fresh and marine waters.
3- A
new aquaculture research on freshwater fishes, after the establishing of
a good facilitated hatuary which started successfully in breeding of
Chinese carp. The next step will be with the Iraqi native fishes.
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4-
To provide histological studies for the important fish species and
histopathological studies to fish disease. The department also occupies
good facilities for conducting these research projects.
5-
The department has a
specialized lab in fish parasitology aiming to diagnosis parasites of
fish and aquatic birds as well as Ecology, Biology, Epidemiology; their
treatments and controls.
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