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DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF FRESHWATER SNAILS AROUND AN EARTH DAM IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
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  • Musa Dogara,
  • Goni Alhaji,
  • Joshua Balogun,
  • Muhammmad Abubakar,
  • Auwal Barde,
  • Abubakar S. Ringim,
  • Sulaiman I. Muhammad,
  • Salwa Shehu,
  • Usman Mohammed
Musa Dogara
Federal University Dutse

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Goni Alhaji
Federal Polytechnic damaturu
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Joshua Balogun
Federal University Dutse
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Muhammmad Abubakar
Federal University Dutse
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Auwal Barde
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
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Abubakar S. Ringim
Federal University Dutse
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Sulaiman I. Muhammad
Federal University Dutse
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Salwa Shehu
Federal University Dutse
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Usman Mohammed
Federal University Dutse
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Abstract

Following a preliminary investigation a study was carried from April to October, 2019 to establish more information on the abundance and distribution of freshwater snails in relation to physiochemical factors of Warwade dam. Four sampling sites; human activity, vegetation cover, lentic and lotic were selected for the study along the bank of the dam. Freshwater snails were collected in each of the four sampling sites using long handled scoop net with mesh 0.2mm and hand picking methods. Water samples from the sampling sites were analyzed in the laboratory using standard procedures. A total of 2,027 of fresh water snails belonging to ten species were identified with Bulinus globosus 12(0.6%) and Lymnaea natalensis 12(0.6%) having the lowest abundance while Melanoides tuberculata 1553(76.6%) had the highest. Snail abundance was highest in site characterized by human activities (670) followed by vegetation (482), lotic (442) and lentic (433) waters. Most of the physico-chemical factors measured appeared to favour the growth and survival of fresh water snails. pH (p = 0.01), water current (p = <0.01) and magnesium ion concentration (p = < 0.01) varied significantly across the four sites. Only calcium ion concentration was significantly associated with snail abundance (p = 0.04). Snail abundance showed weak positive relationship with water temperature, color, turbidity and concentration of magnesium ion. The dominance of M. tuberculata over all species particularly those of medical and veterinary importance could have positive implication for their control in the dam.