Abstract
Freshwater snails are crucial in assessing the ecological status of water bodies beside their economic, public and veterinary health importance. Hence, ecological studies pertaining to their abundance, diversity and distribution become paramount. A total of 1664 freshwater snails were sampled in Zobe Dam and the physicochemical parameters of the water body were analyzed on a monthly basis from April to September 2017 following standard protocols. Among the 1664 snails collected, 788 (47.94%) were Lymnaea natalensis, 492 (29.93%) were Bulinus trophicus and 364 (26.14%) were Bulinus forskalii. The study revealed monthly and spatial variation in the population of snails. Diversity and distribution of snails in Zobe Dam was influenced by pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and turbidity. Coefficient of correlation (r) between snail species and the physicochemical parameters of water such as dissolved oxygen, turbidity and conductivity had a strong positive correlation with all the three species while pH was found to have a weak positive correlation with only Lymnaea natalensis. In conclusion, Lymnaea natalensis was the most abundant in population of snails inhabiting Zobe Dam and the population of snail varied with the physicochemical parameters of the water body.
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