Distribution Patterns and Habitat Requirements of Freshwater Snails in Man-Made Ponds

Abstract

The study was carried out to understand the factors that affect community structure and generate heterogeneity in gastropod species diversity in various types of man-made ponds (e.g., subsidence ponds, sand pits and fish ponds at forested and non-forested locations). The studied waterbodies differed in water chemistry, bottom sediment type, source and drainage of water and in terms of snail occurrence patterns. Differences in gastropod species composition were related to differences in bottom sediments and water chemistry. Two-way indicator species analysis split the clusters into four groups with respect to substratum type and location. Forest ponds were important for the gastropod diversity and specifically for Planorbidae species.