The College of Education for Pure Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, University of Basra, discussed a doctoral thesis on a taxonomic and ecological study on phytoplankton communities (Geraldithium) in the waters of the Shatt Al-Arab River in southern Iraq.
The thesis presented by the researcher (Aqil Abdul-Saheb Abdul-Hussein) included
 To identify the qualitative and quantitative composition in it and to estimate the biomass represented by chlorophyll-a and the primary productivity of phytoplankton, as well as to identify some chemical indicators, by identifying five stations chosen along the length of the beach, namely Al-Deir station, Al-Ashar station, Abu Al-Khasib, Al-Siba and Al-Faw station. Samples, once for each month, starting from January to December 2020 (except for the month of April).
   The current study also resulted in the diagnosis of 25 types of phytoplankton recorded for the first time in Iraq, which represents a qualitative scientific leap that can be added to the list of Iraqi algae. These algae belong to 22 genera, 14 of which belong to green algae, and 3 types belong to blue-green algae. , and 5 species belong to the rotating algae, and two species belong to the Euglena algae, and one type belongs to the Karian algae.