Diversity, distribution and abundance of freshwater snails in Eleyele dam, Ibadan, south-west Nigeria

AbstractFreshwater molluscs help in the assessment of the ecological status of water bodies and also play significant roles in the public and veterinary health. Hence, scientific studies pertaining to their diversity, distribution and abundance become essential. In Eleyele dam, freshwater snails were sampled and physicochemical parameters of the water body were analysed fortnightly using standard methods from May to October 2013. Plant species distribution and abundance, bottom sediment types were also identified. A total of 2230 freshwater snails were collected. The snail species, total number and relative abundance were: Melanoides tuberculata 450 (20.18%), Potadoma liberiensis 301 (13.49%), Biomphalaria pfeifferi 37 (1.66%), Indoplanorbis exutus 456 (20.45%), Bulinus globosus 18 (0.81%), Gabbiella africana 53 (2.38%), Lymnaea natalensis 386 (17.31%), and Physa marmorata 529 (23.72%). 4 out of these 8 species are of medical importance. The study revealed that the density of freshwater snails varied mont...