The Department of Ecology at the College of Science, University of Basrah, organized a seminar titled "Assessing and Monitoring Aquatic Systems Using Environmental Indicators."

Presented by doctoral candidate Sama Abbas Abdul Majeed, the seminar highlighted the importance of integrated monitoring and assessment for the Shatt al-Arab. This approach combines field surveys and laboratory analyses with the application of water quality and biodiversity indices, enabling a more comprehensive diagnosis of the river’s environmental status and the tracking of its spatial and temporal changes.

The seminar addressed the significance of this approach for the Shatt al-Arab environment—an area currently facing a complex interplay of pressures, including reduced freshwater supplies, saltwater intrusion, and the discharge of domestic, agricultural, and industrial pollutants—all of which necessitate the adoption of an integrated monitoring system.