The system of the Tigris-Euphrates Rivers is one of the great river systems of southwestern Asia. It comprises the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, which follow roughly parallel courses through the heart of the Middle East. The lower portion of the region that they run through is known as Mesopotamia, was one of the cradles of civilisation.

There are several environmental factors that govern the nature of the two rivers and shape the landscape the two rivers running through. Geological events create rivers, climate monitor the water supply, the surrounding land influences the vegetation and the physical and chemical features of water.

The Tigris-Euphrates system runs through the territory of four countries, Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria. Therefore, any scientific approach to the environment of these two rivers should include the natural history events in these countries.

The book "Tigris and Euphrates Rivers: Their Environment from Headwaters to Mouth" will be divided into nine parts. These parts deal with the issues of the environment, the status of the flora and fauna, the abiotic aspects, ecology, hydrological regime of the two rivers, the biotic aspects. Water resources, stress of the environment, conservation issues.

Since the book of Julian Rzoska "Euphrates and Tigris Mesopotamian Ecology and Destiny" in 1980, no book or major reference has been published that includes between its cover the facts and information that the present book will present. Therefore, the importance of the present book falls in stating the present status of the environment of the two rivers and the comparison of their environment between now and that of 37 years ago as given by J. Rzoska (1980).

The recent studies showed that there are a large number of natural and political events that happened within the last three decades in the area of the Tigris-Euphrates river system that for sure have done a great change to the environmentof the two rivers and consequently changing the biological and non-biological resources of the two rivers.

This book will be a reference book to both Academic and students across the Middle East in different disciplines of knowledge to use in their researches on Tigris-Euphrates river system. The scholars interested in this area will use this book as a guide to compare this freshwater system with other areas in Asia and the world. 

Introduction

Part I. Historical Perspectives
Vertebrates of Upper Mesopotamia: Present Evidence and Archaeological Data
Fishing Gears and Methods: A Comparison of Ancient Mesopotamia and Other Ancient Worlds
Ichthyological Characteristics Available in the Fish Images Existed in the Art of the Ancient Mesopotamia
The Effectiveness of Ancient Mesopotamian Medical Practices: The Example of susu-Licorice
Part II. The Abiotic Aspects of the Tigris-Euphrates River System
Management of Water Resources Using Storage Reservoirs
Estimation of Irrigated Agricultural Area and Water Consumption in Iraq
The Nature of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers Flow: Current Status and Future Prospective
Streamflow Alteration Impacts with Particular Reference to the Lower Zab River, Tributary of the Tigris River
Ecohydrology in Iraq: Challenges and its Future Pathways
Oil Pollution in the Shatt Al-Arab River and its Estuary 1980-2018
Pesticides in the Waters, Sediments, and Biota of the Shatt Al-Arab River for the Period 1980-2017
Surface Water Salinity of the Euphrates, Tigris, and Shatt al-Arab Rivers
Renewable Energy for Water-Energy Nexus in Euphrates and Tigris River Basin: A Literature Review
Impacts of Dams on Aquatic Biodiversity, Fisheries, Fishes and Their Environment: Problems that Could Be Present in Iraq with Recommendations
Water, Politics and Dams in the Mesopotamia Basin of the Northern Middle East: How Turkey Instrumentalises the South-Eastern Anatolia Project for Political, Military and Strategic Interests
Dams and their Impacts on Fishes in Iran
Part III. The Biotic Aspects of the Tigris-Euphrates River System
Preliminary Review of the Aquatic Biodiversity in Al-Kahla River, Missan Province, Iraq
Freshwater Fish Biodiversity in Iraq: Importance, Threats, Status, and Conservation Challenges
Effect of Climate Changes on the Freshwater Biodiversity in the Mesopotamian Plain: Recommendations for Avoidanceand Plans for the Future
River Corridors as a Refuge for Freshwater Biodiversity: Basic Information and Recommendations to the Policymakers for Possible Implications in Iraq
Biodiversity of Fungi in Aquatic Environment of Iraq
Potability of Drinking Water in Basra-Iraq
Algal Studies in Iraqi Inland Waters. A Review
The Distribution of Epilitic Diatoms in the Turkish Part of the Tigris-Euphrates River Basin
Plant Biodiversity in Shatt Al-Arab Estuary and Ecological Variations
Medicinal Plants of Shatt al-Arab River and Adjacent Area
The Role of Plants as a Canopy in the Inland Waters: Basic Information for Application in Iraq
The Zooplankton Fauna of the Turkish Part of the Euphrates-Tigris River Basin
Kinds and Distribution of Icthyoplankton in Shatt Al-Arab River
Rotifer Diversity in Iranian Waters: A Review
Biodiversity of the Freshwater Amphipods in Iran
The Freshwater Molluscs of the Mesopotamian Plain
Freshwater Annelida of Iraq
A Critical Checklistof the Inland Fishes Native to the Euphrates and Tigris Drainages
Fish Fauna of Shatt al-Arab River, Basrah, Iraq: A More than Quarter a Century of Changes
The Common Carp, Cyprinus carpio: Effect on the Environment and the Indigenous Fish Species in Iraq
The Good and the Bad in Releasing the Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella in the Freshwater System: Recommendations for the Policymakers in Iraq
The Avifauna of Tigris and Euphrates River Basin
The Feasible Approaches to Assist Migratory Birds Visiting the Southern Reaches of Mesopotamia
A Proposal for Establishing Bird Observatory Centre in the South of Iraq
The Potential Role of Waterbirds as a Vector in Dispersing Invertebrates and Plants in the South of Iraq
The Wild Mammals of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Basin
The Amphibians and Reptiles of Euphrates and Tigris Basin
A Preliminary Pictorial Guide to the Herpetofauna of Tigris and Euphrates River Basin
Policy Guidance for Sustainable Aquaculture in the Inlan