Abundance, Distribution and Diversity of Freshwater Gastropods in Three Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Freshwater snail species are well known to play significant role in the transmission of parasites of public health importance. This study was aimed at investigating the abundance, distribution, diversity of freshwater snails in relation to physico-chemical parameters in three Local Government Areas in Plateau State. Snails were collected using scoop net and hand-picking methods. Water samples were collected and analyzed using standard procedures. Data were analyzed using a Generalized Linear Model using the transformed log-transformed abundance of species as dependent variable and location, season, species and physicochemical water parameters as independent variables using R statistical package. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test for differences in abundance, between species and season and level of significance determined at P<0.05. A total of 5,288 freshwater snails were collected comprising of six genera and five families. More snails were collected during the dry season (F=5.4049, P<0.05). Relative abundance in Jos-North, Pankshin and Shendam were 54.82%, 27.05% and 18.10% respectively. Species population abundance observed across locations were 2,831(53.54%) for Physa sp., Biomphalaria sp. 830(15.69%), Lanistes sp., 595(11.25%), Melanoides sp., 537(10.16%), Lymnaea sp., 410(7.87%) and Bulinus sp., 79(1.49%).  Temperature (P = 0.001) and alkalinity (P = 0.000) both played significant roles in the abundance and distribution of freshwater snails species. The presence of freshwater snails in the study areas poses a significant threat to public health, particularly with the discovery of two new snail species.