Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) as an oviposition site for the disease transmitting snail Indoplanorbis exustus (Deshayes 1833) (Gastropoda: Planorbidae): implications in snail management

Abstract

The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an invasive species in freshwater ecosystems with potential to alter habitat features and macroinvertebrate community composition. Many freshwater snails are associated with the water hyacinth for food and refuge. In the present study, an assessment of the water hyacinth as an oviposition site of the freshwater snail Indoplanorbis exustus was conducted through evaluation of the field collected plants. Apparently, the bulbous part of the water hyacinth was preferred over the leaves and the stems in terms of the egg capsules and eggs per egg capsule oviposited by I. exustus. A logistic regression indicated significant differences in the preferred oviposition sites by the snail. Owing to the invasion of the water hyacinth, the oviposition and further colonization by the snail I. exustus may be facilitated