Winners and losers: Post conflict biodiversity in the stressed ecosystem of Khor al-Zubair, Iraq

Abstract

A rapid assessment of biodiversity in the immediate wake of civil conflict and other ‎disasters is critical to inform recovery efforts. We report on the first surveys of aquatic ‎biodiversity in Khor Al-Zubair (KAZ) in southern Iraq, following the cessation of recent ‎violence in the region. This site is in the midst of ongoing environmental changes due to ‎climate change and reductions in water flow from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which ‎have led to increases in salinity in the KAZ. Monthly surveys of biodiversity were ‎conducted in 2017-2018 and compared to historical data from the site obtained from a ‎literature survey. Results indicate a loss of 80% of species richness, suggesting a ‎fundamental and potential catastrophic decline in species diversity resulting from largely ‎anthropogenic drivers.‎