International Journal of Biological Research

and Development (IJBRD)

ISSN(P): 2250-0022; ISSN(E): Applied
Vol. 5, Issue 1, Aug 2015, 1-14
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

NEWLY RECORD OF THE POTAMON MAGNUM IN THE MIDDLE

EUPHRATES AND THE IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
EMAN HASSANI ALSALAMI1 & JASSIM HAMEED RAHMA2
Department of Biology, Education Faculty for Girls

ABSTRACT
In the present study, newly record of the crustacean animal Potamon magnum, and the study samples of river crab
were collected monthly by a network with a radius of (30) cm for the period from August 2014 until May 2015 of three
stations in the al-Kufa river, the first station is located north bridge Imam Ali, the second near the Nissan trocar and the
third near the old bridge. also the effect of environmental factors on the presence and the spread of river crab P. magnum,
which belong to the order Decapods, the highest density has recorded the first station in April (32.89) individual / m3 and
the second station (24.92) individual / m3 while In the third station (30.8) individual / m3 also the animal disappeared in
the all study stations during the months of January and February. . Environmental measurements showed that there is a
positive correlation between intensity P. magnum and all of the air and water temperature, Biological Oxygen Demand
(BOD5), electrical conductivity, salinity and turbidity and Total Hardness (T. H ), also found negative relationship between
river crab density and all of pH , dissolved oxygen , calcium ion

KEYWORDS: Crustacean, Crabs, Hardness, Tigris

INTRODUCTION
Potamon magnum is a freshwater crab, distributed Tigris. Due to their economical and medical importance, crabs,
in general ,have attracted the attention of many researchers, allover the world, to study their reproduction and to investigate
their reproductive organs, in details( Al Barwary , 2011) Freshwater crabs comprise about 1300 extant species at present
and are one of the most diverse groups of brachyuran crustaceans (NG et al. 2008) Freshwater crabs play a key role in the
eco logy of tropical inland waters worldwide ( Yeo et al ., 2008 ;Shih et al ., 2006 )
Freshwater crabs are also medically important as intermediate hosts of paragonimiasis in Asia, Africa, and the
Neotropics. Paragonimiasis, as a food-borne zoonosis, has infected more than 20 million people worldwide by one of the
15 species of lung flukes (i.e. genus Paragonimus) that possibly indicates a wide consumption of freshwater crabs by
humans Adams , 2006 ; Maleewong , 2003 )
Despite, many species of freshwater crabs are in risk of extinction, conservation assessment of them has not
received enough attention since the beginning of the 21st century. A fine scale conservation assessment of freshwater crabs
in Malaysia evidenced that several species are differently threatened (Ng & Yeo, 2007). A similar study on Sri Lankan
freshwater crabs showed that 37 species (72%) are threatened with global extinction as a result of water quality
deterioration (e.g. unregulated use of pesticides), habitat fragmentation and undistributed habitat (Bahir et al., 2005)

www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

Eman Hassani Alsalami & Jassim Hameed Rahma

Freshwater crabs may tolerate some degree of salinity but they have a low capacity for transoceanic dispersal
(Morris & Van Aardt, 1998)
Many species of the Potamidae family migrated to different geographically isolated regions and they well adapted
themselves with prevailing conditions (Bott, 1970; Pretzmann, 1976).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

River crab samples collected per month for a period of ten months from the August 2014 until May 2015 from the
Kufa River near the plant areas by network radius (30 cm) from three station the first station is located near the bridge
imam Ali , the second near the Nissan and the third station is located near the old bridge from the depth (1 meter) and kept
the samples in a plastic bowl and learned according the collection area and the date and time of sample collection and
preserved by using formalin 10%. And the river crab samples sent to the Natural History Museum in Baghdad for the
diagnosis and classification of samples. Also measured physical and chemical factors in different ways such as temperature
of the water and air Co, pH and conductivity electrical (MS / CM) directly in the field by using a multi-digital
measurements mobile device after calibration standard solution , and measured the salinity depending on the electrical
conductivity of the samples values After that hit the value of the electrical conductivity with factor 0.64 , according to the
way( Mackereth, 1978) also measurement dissolved oxygen ( DO) , turbidity , total hardness and the calcium ion in the
laboratory by using different devices. While calculated the value of the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) according to
the method described by the American Health Association (APHA.1998). used the statistical analysis of variance Tow
Way ANOVA)) at the significant level of 5% to find the differences between months and stations study, also used
Correlation Coefficient (r) the positive and negative relation between the animal density and environmental factors
(physical and chemical) .

Figure 1: Map Represents the Study Stations

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Recorded the species P. magnum for the first time in Kufa river, as the animal's Characterization has dark green in

www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

Newly Record of the Potamon magnum in the Middle Euphrates and the Impact of Environmental Factors

the dorsal region and the bottom rigon as white diagonal of yellow this animal has five pairs of walking legs as in the
picture (2), Carapace Length ranged from 16 mm to 55 mm and Carapace ranged from 20 to 6.5 mm and the length of
forceps Chela between 10 to 33 mm and this disagreed with (Salih and Al- Barwary , 2013) in the Shatt al-Mosul, the
animal diameter reached 55 mm to 75 mm.
Record highest density of the animal P. magnum in the month April in the all study stations , in the first station
(32.89) individual / m3, followed by the third station 30.80 individual / m3 and finally the second station (24.92) individual
/ m3 and This agreement with Sultan (1987 ) who record the highest density in the month April ( 54.5) individual / m3 and
recorded the lowest density of the animal in all study stations during the months January and February where there is no
appearance of the animal during those months Table 1, Figure 1.
Table 1: Shows Mean the Monthly Density of River
Crab P. Magnum in the Study Stations
Month
August 2014
September
October
November
December
January 2015
February
March
April
May
June
July
Density years

Station 1
21.86
27.44
18.21
12.04
7.52
0
0
0
32.89
14.93
9.91
8.96
12.81

Station 2
17.91
20.8
16.71
9.2
5.06
0
0
7.37
24.92
15.36
8.23
4.29
10.82

Station 3
20.71
22.35
18.2
16.61
5.53
0
0
10.25
30.8
10.92
8.88
7.08
12.61

Figure 2: Shows Mean the Monthly Density of River Crab P. magnumin the Study Stations

Picture 1: Anterior Region of River Crab P. magnum

www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

Eman Hassani Alsalami & Jassim Hameed Rahma

Picture 2: Abdominal Region of River Crab P. magnum

The Impact of Environmental Factors on the Intensity Crustaceans
The results showed that the most important factors that have an impact on the presence of this river crab is the
water temperature and salinity which results shows less density of the river crab in the first station in January , February
and March 2015, where this animal does not appear during those months when the temperature of 13.4 and 13 and 18.1 CO
respectively The highest density reached (32.89) individual / MO at a temperature of 20 CO during April , while the lowest
density in the second station was during January and February where is not recorded any intensity of this animal at a
temperature of 14.5 and 14.1 respectively and the highest density reached in the April 24.92 individual / m3 at a
temperature of 22.4.
Temperature
Temperature of the air in the first station Ranged between 14.8 C o in the February month 2015 and 42.2 Co in
August 2014, and the water temperature between 13 C0 in the February month and 27.7 CO in August, and in the second
station air temperature ranged between 15 CO in the December month in 2015 and 39.5 CO in August 2014 and the water
temperature is between 14.1 CO in the February month and 29.1 Co, while in the third station air temperature ranged
between 13 CO in the January month 2015 and 30.4 Co In August 2014, as well as there are positive relationship between
air temperature and density of river crab P. magnum Correlation coefficient ( r = 0.722, r = 0.729, r = 0.529) in all study
stations, respectively, also Showed positive relation between the water temperature and the density of river crabs with
correlation coefficient (r = (0.661, r = 0.903, r = 0.658) In the all study, all stations respectively at p <0.05. Temperature
have direct impact in the distribution of organisms in the aquatic environment which impact on gases soluble such as
oxgen and carbon dioxide, as well as impact on the water content of nutrients and the salinity which have positive
correlation with temperature ( Hauer and Lamberti, 2007). Also the considers temperature the main factor in controlling
the distribution of organisms which impact on main biological processes as a main factor in breathing, nutrition, growth,
productivity and Osmoregulation, as regulated the productivity in several ways and controlled the maturity of the gonads
and the formation of sperm and eggs, soothe temperature have major effects on the reproduction rate and and mortality
rates during the first stages of the evolution and life the larvae (Al-Saadi, 2006).
The variations of temperatures in the study areas is natural variation as aresalt of the change in the weather
throughout the year (Al-Zurfi, 2010)

www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

Newly Record of the Potamon magnum in the Middle Euphrates and the Impact of Environmental Factors

Potential of Hydrogen Ion (pH)

The value of pH ranged between 6.7 in May 2015 to 9.6 in the January, it was noted a negative relationship
between pH value and the density of river crabs with correlation coefficient (r = - 0.148, r = - 0.401, r = - 0.268) in the all
study stations at p <0.05. The pH is one of the most important environmental characteristics that have an impact on the
metabolism and physiology and growth of organisms that live in different aquatic environments ( Lowson, 2011) pH in the
surface water have a great importance to aquatic life which impact on physiological natural functions for aquatic
organisms, such as ion exchange with water and breathing and the vital aquatic organisms activity naturally at acidic range
function ranging from (9 - 6) (El-DeebGhazy et al., 2011).
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
Dissolved oxygen value ranged between 2.9 mg / L in August 2014 to 9.1 mg / L in the February 2015, and noted
the negative correlation in the first and third station between the dissolved oxygen value and the density P. magnum with
correlation coefficient ( r = - 0.794), r = - 0.012), while in the second station observed positive correlation coefficient r =
(0.155) at p <0.05. Dissolved oxygen is a one important chemical variables in the water ecosystem as well as the main
determinant for the aquatic environment which contrdling on the solute and toxicity of a lot of material( Smith, 2004)
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5)
Were studied over water pollution in terms of bio-oxygen demand (BOD), the(BOD) ranged from 0.7 mg / L in
the February 2015 to 4.3 mg / L in the August 2014, where it was noted the existence of a positive correlation between the
value of the (BOD) and intensity river crab P. magnum with correlation coefficient ( r = 0.222, r = 0.754, r = 0.024) in all
study stations respectively at p <0.05, as it uses a bio-oxygen demand Kmahra of the extent of dissolved oxygen
consumption of neighborhoods (Coleman and Pettiqvove, 2001 Between Dhembare (2011) that high concentrations of the
vital requirement for oxygen is suitable for the growth of zooplankton in Mola dam in India
Salinity
The water salinity ranged between 0.71 ppt in the January 2015 to 1.31 ppt in August 2014, as it was noted that
there is a positive correlation between the value of the salinity and density of river crab P. magnum with correlation
coefficient (r = 0.525, r = 0.071, r = 0.370) in all study stations respectively at p <0.05. salinity play an important role in
the life of aquatic organisms through the Osmoregulation, Fresh water organisms differ in salinity so the high salt
concentrations lead to a breach of balance between salt concentration in the blood and its concentration in the outer
environment (Braunstein et al..2007)
Turbidity
Turbidity value ranging from 1.4 Mg /L in the March 2015 to 14.3 Mg /L in the August 2015, and noted that there
is a positive correlation between the value of the turbidity and the density of crab river P. magnum correlation coefficient
of( r = 0.608, r = 0.464, r = 0.076) in all study stations respectively at p <0.05. Turbidity refers to the amount of suspended
solids in the water, as a metal, such as soil molecules or organic such as algae, and the turbidity measure is of the amount
of scattered light as a result of suspended molecules in the water (water Internet Site, 2005) .

www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

Eman Hassani Alsalami & Jassim Hameed Rahma

Calcium Ion
Calcium ion value ranged from 119 Mg /L in August 2014 to 380 mg / L in the February 2015, also observed a
negative correlation between the value of calcium and density of river crab P. magnum with correlation coefficient ( r = 0.701, r = - 0.620, r = - 0.007) in the study and all stations respectively at p <0.05

Station 1

Station 2

Station 3
Figure 3: (A, B, C): Shows the Relationship between Air Temperature
and the Density of River Crab P. magnum in the Study Stations

www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

Newly Record of the Potamon magnum in the Middle Euphrates and the Impact of Environmental Factors

Station 1

Station 2

Station 3
Figure 4: (A, B, C) Shows the Relationship between Water Temperature and the
Density of River Crab P. magnum in the Study Stations

Station 1
www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

Eman Hassani Alsalami & Jassim Hameed Rahma

Station 2

Station 3
Figure 5: (A, B ,C) Shows the Relationship between pH and Density of
River Crab P.magnum in the Study Stations

Station 1

Station 2
www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

Newly Record of the Potamon magnum in the Middle Euphrates and the Impact of Environmental Factors

Station 3
Figure 6: (A, B, C) Shows the Relationship between DO and the Density of
River Crab P.magnum in the Study Stations

Station 1

Station 2

Station 3
Figure 7: (A, B, C) Shows the Relationship between BOD and the Density of
River Crab P. magnum in the Study Stations
www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

10

Eman Hassani Alsalami & Jassim Hameed Rahma

Station 1

Station 2

Station 3
Figure 8: (A, B, C): Shows the Relationship between Salinity and the Density of
River crab P.magnum in the Study Stations

Station 1
www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

Newly Record of the Potamon magnum in the Middle Euphrates and the Impact of Environmental Factors

11

Station 2

Station 3
Figure 9: (A, B, C) Shows the Relationship between Turbidity and the Density of
River Crab P.magnum in the Study Stations

Station 1

Station 2
www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

12

Eman Hassani Alsalami & Jassim Hameed Rahma

Station 3
Figure 10: (A, B, C) Shows the Relationship between Turbidity and the
Density of River Crab P.magnum in the Study Stations

REFERENCES
1.

Adams, A. M. (2006) Foodborne Trematodes. Fooaborne Parasites ( by Y .R . Ortega) , pp . 161 196. Springer.

2.

AL- Barwary , B . H. T. I. 2011. Apreliminary anatomical, histological and some aspects of histochemical study
on male reproductive system of freshwater crab Potamon magnum magnum (Pretzman ) . M .Sc. Thesis. .Iraq

3.

Al-Zurfi, S.K. (2010) Ecological Study of Ibn Najim Marsh Plants in Central Mesopotamia. Iraq. Ph.D. Thesis.
Faculty of Science University of Kufa pp169. (In Arabic).

4.

Bahir , M . M., Ng, P. K . L., Crandall, k. & Pethiyagoda , R . (2005) A conservation assessment of the
freshwater crabs of Sri Lanka. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 12, 121 126.

5.

BOTT, R. (1970) Betrachtung uber die Entwicklungs geschichte und Verbreitung der Susswasser Kraben nach
der Sammlung des Naturhistorischen Museum in Genf / Schweiz , 266-275 .

6.

Brandis , D . (1997) Untersuchungen Zur Morphologie und Systematik altweltlicher Potamidae (Brachyura ,
Decapoda , Crutacea) Dissertation, Ruprecht-Karls Universitat Heidelberg .

7.

Braunstein, I., S. Miniowitz, Y. Moshe, and A. Hershko. 2007. Inhibitory factors associated with anaphasepromoting complex/cylosome in mitotic checkpoint. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 104:48704875.

8.

Cumberlidge , N.& Ng , P.K.L. (2009) Systematics , Evolution , and Biogeography of Freshwater Crabs .
Crustacean Issues: Decapoda Crustacean Phylogenetics (ed. By J. W. Martin, K.A. Crandall and D.L.Felder),pp..
491-508. Taylor & Francis Group, CRC Press,New York.

9.

Crosskey, R.W. (1990) the natural history of blackflies. John Wiley & Sons Ltd

10. Diesel, R., Schubart, C.D. & Schuh, M. (2000) A reconstruction of the invasion of land by Jamaican crabs
(Grapsidae: Sesarminae). Journal of Zoology, 250, 141-160.
11. Dobson, M., Magana, A.M., Mathooko, J.M. & Ndegwa, F.K. (2007a) Distribution and abundance of
freshwater crabs (Potamonautes spp.) in rivers draining Mt Kenya , East Africa. Fundamental and Applied
Limnology, 168,271-279.
12. El-Deeb Ghazy , M . M.; Habashy, M.M. and Mohammady , E . Y. (2011). Of the Effect of pH on survival,
www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

13

Newly Record of the Potamon magnum in the Middle Euphrates and the Impact of Environmental Factors

growth and reproduction rates

13. Hauer, F. R. and Lamberti, G. A. (Eds.): Methods in Stream Ecology, Tokyo, Elservier, 2007.
14. Jesse, R., Grudinski, M., Klaus, S., Streit, B. & Pfenninger, M. (2011) Evolution of freshwater crab diversity
in the Aegean region (Crustacea: Brachyura: Potamidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 59, 23-33.
15. KLAUS, S., SCHUBART, C. D. & BRANDIS, D. (2009a): Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of spermatozoa and
spermatophores

of

fresh

water

crabs

(Brachyura:

Potamoidea:

Gecarcinucidae,

Potamidae

and

Potamonautidae).Journal of Morphology, 270: 175-193.

16. Krupp, F., Schneider,W., Kinzelbach,R., (1987) Proceedings of the Symposium on the Fauna and
zoogeography of the Middle East, Wiesbaden.53-56.
17. Mackereth , F. G. H .; Heron , J . And Tailing, J. F. (1978). Water analysis: some revised methods for
Jimnologist . Sci . Pub. Fresh Water. Biol . Assoc (England). 36: 1-120.
18. Maleewong, W. (2003) Paragonimus species. International handbook of foodborne pathogens (ed. by M.
Miliotis and J. Bier), pp. 601-611. Marcel Dekker, CRC Press, New York.
19. Micheli, F., Gherardi, F. & Vannini, M. (1990) Growth and reproduction in the freshwater crab, Potamon
fluviatile (Decapoda, Brachyura). Freshwater Biology, 23, 491-503.
20. Morris, S. & Van Aardt, W.J. (1998) Salt and water relations, and nitrogen excretion, in the amphibious African
freshwater crab Potamonautes warreni in water and in air. Journal of experimental biology, 201, 883-893.
21. Ng, P.K.L. & Yeo, D.C.J. (2007) Malaysian freshwater crabs: conservation prospects and challenges. Status of
Biological Diversity in Malaysia and Threat Assessment of Plant Species in Malaysia (ed. by L.S.L. Chua, L.G.
Kirton and L.G. Saw), pp. 95-120. Chua.
22. NG, P. K. L., GUINOT, D. & DAVIE, P. J. F. (2008): Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of
extant brachyuran crabs of the world. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 17: 1-286.
23. Park, E.J., Jo, H.J. and Jung, J. 2009. Combined effects of pH, hardness and dissolved organic carbon on acute
metal toxicity to Daphnia magna. J. Ind. Eng. Chem. 15: 8285.
24. Pretzmann, G., (1976) Ergebnisse einiger sammelreisen nach Vorderasien, (6. Die Swasserkrabben Persiens),
Natur historisches Museum Wien .457- 472.
25. Rodrguez, G. & Magalhes, C. (2005) Recent advances in the biology of the Neotropical freshwater crab
family Pseudothelphusidae (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura). Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 22, 354-365.
26. Salih, E .N. And AL- barwary, H .T. I .B. (2013). A preliminary anatomical studyo fmale reproductive system
of the fresh water crab potamon magum magnum (Pretzman) (Arthropoda: Crustacea: Decapoda) . thebioscan.
8(2): 425-427
27. Shine, R. (1978) Propagule Size and Parental Care: The "Safe-Harbor". Journal of Theoretical Biology, 75, 417424.
28. Shih, H.T., Hung, H.C., Schubart, C.D., Chen, C.L.A. & Chang, H.W. (2006) Intraspecific genetic diversity of
www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

14

Eman Hassani Alsalami & Jassim Hameed Rahma

the endemic freshwater crab Candidiopotamon rathbunae (Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamidae) reflects five million
years of the geological history of Taiwan. Journal of Biogeography, 33, 980-989.
29. Smith, R. (2004). Current Methods in Aquatic Science. University of waterloo, Canada.
30. Sultan, A .N. (1987). Dynamic population group and secondary production and the nature of the drilling Cancer
river Sesarme boulengeri Calman in the Shatt al-Arab. Master Thesis, Faculty of Science, University of Basra:
170 p. (in Arabic)
31. STERNBERG, R. VON, CUMBERLIDGE, N. & RODRGUEZ, G. the (1999): On marine sister groups of
the freshwater crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary
Research, 37: 19-38.
32. Toscano, C., Yu, S.H., Nunn, P. & Mott, K.E. (1994) Paragonimiasis and Tuberculosisdiagnostic confusion: A
review of the literature. Tropical Diseases Bulletin, 92, R1 R26.
33. WHO. (2008) Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. 3rd Ed, incorporating the first and second addenda,Vol.1,
Recommendations, Geneva.
34. Yeo, D.C.J., Ng, P.K.L., Cumberlidge, N., Magalhaes, C., Daniels, S.R. & Campos, M.R. (2008) Global
diversity of crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia, 595, 275-286.

www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org