Some Environmental And Biological Characteristics Of Ephemeral Pools In The State Of Kuwait

Abstract A study of the flora fauna environmental parameters and chemical analyses of water and sediment in 12 ephemeral pools in the State of Kuwait was conducted at various dates during 2013-2015 to assess their physical chemical and biological characteristics. The flora in and around the pools was represented by 11 species of flowering gymnosperm plants belonging to 7 orders dominated by representatives of Caryophyllales in addition to one species of the genera Rhizophora. A total of 21 faunal species were found belonging to two phyla only Arthropoda Insecta Crustacea and Arachnida and Chordata Amphibia and Pisces. The insects were represented by 5 orders with 15 species in various developmental stages in comparison with only two species of Crustacea and one species each for Arachnida Amphibia and two species of Pisces.No significant differences were found between pools in most of their environmental characteristics except for salinity.Some pools showed higher values for sulphate concentration in the water and the soil due to receiving treated sewage water. Others had very high values of chloride and nitrate.