The authors document the diatom species composition and ecology in the two major water impoundments of Southern Iraq, the Mesopotamian Marshes and Shatt Al-Arab River. Based on light and scanning electron microscopy investigations, 293 taxa are documented, including the description of three new species. The taxa treated herein were collected from a variety of habitats over a period of 15 years. Diatom assemblages consist of a mixture of freshwater, brackish water and marine taxa.
Many diatom taxa that have disappeared in recent years are also documented in this volume. One reason for their disappearance is the high salinization of the Mesopotamian Marshes and Shatt Al-Arab River areas resulting from extremely low freshwater discharge from Euphrates and Tigris Rivers which allowed the seawater front to reach these regions. Species belonging to previously recorded genera such as Eunotia and Diatoma are no longer present in this area. Therefore, this work also is a documentary record of the diatom flora of the wetlands of Southern Iraq during the past 15 years and not only provides an insight into the present state of research but preserves records and findings from taxa no longer present in Southern Iraq, due to human driven ecological impacts.

The present volume leads us to the world of the diatoms of wetlands of southern Iraq, namely, diatoms from all three major Mesopotamian Marshes and the Shatt Al-Arab River. The speciality of the diatom communities living in this region is that this is a mixture of fresh, brackish and marine water species. A total of 293 taxa belonging to 88 genera were identified and documented. Included among these are three new species, Biremis sigmoidea sp. nov., Fragilaria koensabbei sp. nov. and Scoliopleura basrensis sp. nov.

This work is a documentary record of the diatom flora during the past 15 years. At the same time the content of this book is an example of the negative result of excessive hu- man activities on the environment because it also preserves records and findings from taxa no longer present in Southern Iraq, due to human driven ecological impacts. Many spe- cies that were considered normal components of diatom communities in the region have disappeared due to changing environmental conditions, these include species of Eunotia, Pinnularia, Mastogloia and Diatoma.

Nevertheless, this guide is a nice resume which can be easy to use with its 652 figures on 62 plates. Not only LM but also SEM micrographs also help the users in the identifica- tion of diatoms. Furthermore, there is a useful taxonomic index at the end of the book which helps a lot in finding descriptions and photos on diatom frustules.

Similarly to the previous volumes of this series it is also recommended for algologists and students who just now get know to diatoms, and for those ones who are interested in diatoms living in special habitats.