Following a preliminary investigation a study was carried from April to
October, 2019 to establish more information on the abundance and
distribution of freshwater snails in relation to physiochemical factors
of Warwade dam. Four sampling sites; human activity, vegetation cover,
lentic and lotic were selected for the study along the bank of the dam.
Freshwater snails were collected in each of the four sampling sites
using long handled scoop net with mesh 0.2mm and hand picking methods.
Water samples from the sampling sites were analyzed in the laboratory
using standard procedures. A total of 2,027 of fresh water snails
belonging to ten species were identified with Bulinus globosus 12(0.6%)
and Lymnaea natalensis 12(0.6%) having the lowest abundance while
Melanoides tuberculata 1553(76.6%) had the highest. Snail abundance was
highest in site characterized by human activities (670) followed by
vegetation (482), lotic (442) and lentic (433) waters. Most of the
physico-chemical factors measured appeared to favour the growth and
survival of fresh water snails. pH (p = 0.01), water current (p =
<0.01) and magnesium ion concentration (p = < 0.01)
varied significantly across the four sites. Only calcium ion
concentration was significantly associated with snail abundance (p =
0.04). Snail abundance showed weak positive relationship with water
temperature, color, turbidity and concentration of magnesium ion. The
dominance of M. tuberculata over all species particularly those of
medical and veterinary importance could have positive implication for
their control in the dam.
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