Macroinvertebrates and Physicochemical Characteristics in the Kani Mazi River: Spatiotemporal Analysis Utilizing Multivariate Statistical Methods

Kani Mazi River is a branch of the Greater Zab River, it is an important freshwater ecosystem in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which serves as a vital resource for biodiversity and human livelihoods. This study aimed to evaluate the water quality and macroinvertebrate diversity of Kani Mazi, a significant segment of the river, to assess its ecological health and potential anthropogenic impacts. In a seasonal pattern from March to December 2022, water samples and macroinvertebrate specimens were systematically collected from three sites. Macroinvertebrates were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level to assess abundance and ecological status. According to preliminary results, water quality fluctuates spatially and temporally, with some sites showing evidence of pollution. A gradient of ecological health can also be observed in the macroinvertebrate communities across the study area. Principal component analysis/ Cluster analysis was used to evaluate the water quality. The sample of macroinvertebrates collected from studied sites contained phylum Arthropoda which belongs to Crustacea (family: Gammaroidea) and Insects of three orders which are Emphemeroptera (Family: Baetidae, Heptagenidae, Caenidae), order Odonata (Family: gomphidae) and order Trichoptera (family: Hydropsychidae). PCA extracted three PCs, 56%, 15.9%, and 14.6% of total variance respectively for seasons. Regarding Cluster analysis, results two clusters of three subgroups were formed. Results indicated that these statistical methods are useful for classifying sample sites consistent with their interconnected characteristics.