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Diversity, distribution and abundance of freshwater snails in Eleyele dam,

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Diversity, distribution and abundance of

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Oyedibu Oyebayo Oloyede, Benson Otarigho & Olajumoke Morenikeji

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Zoology and Ecology, 2016
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21658005.2016.1245934

Diversity, distribution and abundance of freshwater snails in Eleyele dam,

Ibadan, south-west Nigeria
Oyedibu Oyebayo Oloyedea  , Benson Otarighob,c  and Olajumoke Morenikejid
a
Ecology and Environmental Biology Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; bCellular Parasitology, Cell Biology
and Genetic Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; cDepartment of Biological Science, Edo University, Iyamho,
Edo State, Nigeria; dParasitology/Ecology and Environmental Biology Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY

Freshwater molluscs help in the assessment of the ecological status of water bodies and also Received 3 May 2016
play significant roles in the public and veterinary health. Hence, scientific studies pertaining to Accepted 19 September 2016
their diversity, distribution and abundance become essential. In Eleyele dam, freshwater snails KEYWORDS
were sampled and physicochemical parameters of the water body were analysed fortnightly Abundance; bottom
using standard methods from May to October 2013. Plant species distribution and abundance, sediments; distribution;
bottom sediment types were also identified. A total of 2230 freshwater snails were collected. The ecological factors; Eleyele
snail species, total number and relative abundance were: Melanoides tuberculata 450 (20.18%), dam; freshwater snails
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 monthly and spatially and that
the diversity and distribution of the malacofauna of Eleyele dam were mostly influenced by
the presence of plants Eichhornia crassipes and Nymhaea lotus, water depth, alkalinity, total
dissolved solids, total hardness, and conductivity. The presence of a high number of snail species
of medical importance indicates that the people participating in various activities on the dam
are predisposed to infections harboured by these organisms.

Introduction to their marine counterparts (Senghor et al. 2015). Marine

Increase in the world population has led to global
increase in demand for water and water resources.
Over-abstraction of water, pollution, eutrophication,
damming of rivers and streams are some of the human
activities threatening the existence of many ecosystems.
Damming has numerous social and economic benefits
such as irrigation, fishing, transportation, tourism, power
generation. However, damming of rivers and streams to
build reservoirs gives rise to significant modifications in
the natural ecology of the original water bodies (Owojori,
Asaolu, and Ofoezie 2006). For instance, it creates new
biotopes which are more conducive than hitherto for
breeding of freshwater snails, including those that are of
medical and veterinary importance (Ofoezie 1999). The
presence of different species of snails in water bodies has
called for their comprehensive studies in regard to their
ecology, biology, distribution, and abundance.
Despite the fact that freshwater snails play an impor-
tant role in freshwater ecosystems and some also trans-
mit serious diseases to humans and animals, including
fish, little attention is being paid to them in comparison
molluscs have received more attention because of their
aesthetic and gastronomic significance when compared
to their freshwater counterparts that are drab coloured
(Saupe et al. 2014).
Approximately 5000 species of freshwater snails have
been found to inhabit different lakes, ponds and streams
worldwide (Soldánová et al. 2013). Most of these fresh-
water snails are in the class Gastropoda (Mollusca) which
is the largest molluscan group and is sub-classed into
two: Prosobranchia and Pulmonata. They inhabit perma-
nent water bodies across a large range in Africa and are
well represented in Nigeria’s water bodies, especially in
the south-west of the country.
Most malacologists studying freshwater snails focus
majorly on snail species that have been incriminated as
vectors of trematode parasites of humans and animals,
such as Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Bulinus sp., Lymnaea sp.
which are known to be of great economic loss. Thus,
other freshwater snails that have no prominent medical
or veterinary importance receive less or no attention.
Also, freshwater snails are generally considered to be her-
bivores removing vegetative biomass, which may affect

CONTACT  Oyedibu Oyebayo Oloyede  Ooloyede7396@stu.ui.edu.ng

© 2016 Nature Research Centre
2    O. O. Oloyede et al.
the standing crop and distribution of primary producers
in an aquatic ecosystem.
Ecological investigations of freshwater snails have
shown that the population dynamics and ecology of
these animals depends on various factors such as the
physical geography of a given region, land contours, soil
composition, type of bottom soil sediment, hydrogra-
phy, climate change (Yousiff et al. 1998); physicochemical
parameters such as temperature, nitrate level, pH, dis-
solved gases, alkalinity, calcium ions (Kloos et al. 2001),
and biological factors such macrophytes (Ofoezie 1999).
In Africa, many researches have been carried out on
freshwater snail abundance, distribution and ecology,
which include Brown et al. (2012) in Sudan; Orwa et al.
(2015) in Kenya; Koji et al. (2015) in Cameroon; Claassens
et al. (2016) in South Africa, among others. In Nigeria,
snail studies have been carried out by many researchers
such as Omudu and Iyough (2005) on the River Benue;
Salawu and Odaibo (2014) on different water bodies in
Yewa North, Ogun State, and many more. Idowu, Inyang,
and Eyo (2008) observed that shallow lakes, especially
those with well-developed littoral macrophytes often
harbour diverse snail species assemblages in the tropics.
Different studies have been carried out on Eleyele
dam, but no study has been reported on the distribution,
abundance, and ecology of the freshwater snails in the
dam. The study of these organisms is important due to
the fact that the occurrence of some species is related
to polluted areas, while for others, the presence of clean,
unpolluted water is essential for their occurrence. It is
likewise important to enlist the molluscan wealth of
Eleyele dam.
This study aimed at investigating the ecology of fresh-
water snails in Eleyele dam. The objectives of this study
were to:
(1)  study the monthly variation of water chemis-
try, freshwater snails in Eleyele dam,
(2)  investigate the effects of ecological fac-
tors such as macrophytes, physicochemical
parameters, soil bottom sediment on the dis-
tribution and abundance of freshwater snails
in Eleyele dam, and
(3)  investigate the spatial distribution of individ-
ual species and temporal variation in mollusc
abundance.
Materials and methods
Study area
The study was conducted on Eleyele dam which is
located north-east of Ibadan, south-western part of
Nigeria, which falls within longitude 07°25′ N and 07°27′
N and latitude 03°50′ E and 03°53′ E. The study area is
surrounded by different communities, and it serves
as a very important source of domestic water supply,
transportation, farming, fishing and recreation for these
communities. The Eleyele community is towards the
south of the dam, Apete community towards the east,
and Awotan community towards the north.
In 1942, the quest to create a modern water supply
system to meet the challenge of water scarcity for the
emerging Ibadan metropolis led to the construction of
Eleyele dam on the main Ona River with a reservoir stor-
age capacity of 29.5 million litres (Tijani, Olaleye, and
Olubanjo 2011). However, Eleyele dam capacity reduced
from 29.5 million litres to below 11 million litres in 2013
(Olaniyan et al. 2015). The dam is a modified natural riv-
erine wetland type with an area of about 1.290 km2 and
a catchment area of 10.303 km2.
Four sampling points were chosen within the dam
(Figure 1). These points cover various human activities
occurring within the study area (Table 1).
Snail sampling
Data were collected fortnightly from May to October
2013 between the hours of 06.30 and 10.30. Samplings
were carried out using a 0.2 mm scoop net with a long
handle as described by Madsen et al. (2001). About 30
passes of a kitchen scoop were made at each point
through the upper surface of sediments across vegeta-
tion stands. Floating objects, dead decaying objects and
surface sediments were sampled along with molluscs
at each sampling point. The collected were taken to the
laboratory in labelled containers.
At some places which were characterised by stones
and accumulation of decayed plants and where a scoop
net could not be adequately used, an effort was made
by searching for freshwater snails using hand gloves
and plastic spoons (WHO 1985; Ofoezie 1999). Snails
were also searched for underside of boats and in open
water. Each sampling point was sampled for snails for
30–40 min.
All snails collected were transported in containers
with perforated lids and containing moist cotton wool
into the laboratory for identification. Identification of
snails into various genera and species was done based on
the published book by WHO on Africa freshwater snails,
and counting of snails was done at species level.
Aquatic macrophytes and sediment type
identification
All the emergent and floating macrophytes found in each
of the sampling points were collected, properly labelled,
and preserved by pressing them between newspapers to
prevent decay. The plants were taken to the herbarium
for identification in the Department of Botany, University
of Ibadan. Each macrophyte was identified to species
level, and the vegetation abundance at each sampling
point was described as dense, moderate, or sparse. The
 Zoology and Ecology   3

Figure 1. Study area and sampling points (Ref: Locator_map_Nigeria.png).

Table 1. Sampling points, GPS location and various activities performed at each point.
Sampling point GPS location Human activities Bottom sediments
A 07°25′23.7″N, 03°51′26.6″E Landing for canoes conveying passengers Sandy bottom with silt substrate
B 07°25′22.9″N, 03°51′29.4″E Fish sold to market women, washed and processed Sandy bottom with detritus
C 07°25′30.4″N, 03°51′31.1″E Landing for canoes conveying passengers, water is being Muddy bottom with detritus
taken for domestic activities
D 07°25′30.4″N, 03°51′36.6″E Surrounded by abandoned farmland, water body is filthy Highly muddy bottom with little sand
and smelly

sediment types at each sampling point were collected
into different containers and taken to the Department of
Soil Science, University of Ibadan for identification and
classification into: sand-mud, mud, sand with detritus,
and sand only.
Water sampling
The physical parameters measured during each sam-
pling included temperature and water depth. Water
depth was measured using a metre rule calibrated in
centimetres. Water temperature was determined in situ
by inserting a mercury-in-glass thermometer into the
water and allowed to stabilize horizontally for five min-
utes (Olofintoye 2001).
Conductivity and pH values were measured in the
field using the Consort C933-chemical analyser. Surface
water samples were collected twice in a month at the
four sampling points in Eleyele dam in 2-l plastic con-
tainers by a simple dip method (Owojori, Asaolu, and
Ofoezie 2006). Total dissolved solids, total solids, total
suspended solids, and total hardness were determined.
The cadmium reduction method was used to determine
the nitrate level in water. Calcium ion concentration in
the water was determined with the Atomic Absorption
Spectrometer (Model 210/211 VGP); nitrate ion con-
centration was determined using a phenoldisulphoric
method. Total alkalinity was determined by titration with
standard sulphuric acid (N/50 H2SO4) using mixed indi-
cators (methyl red and bromocresol green). Dissolved
oxygen samples were collected in glass stoppered light
reagent bottles and immediately fixed with Winkler’s
reagent (KI and MnCl2) in the field and titrated with
0.0125 N sodium thiosulphate (APHA, AWWA, and WEF
1992). Samples for biological oxygen demand (BOD)
were determined in the same way, except that they were
4    O. O. Oloyede et al.

Table 2. Freshwater snail occurrence at sampling points in Eleyele dam: numbers of individuals and relative abundance (in paren-
theses).
Sampling points
Subclass Family Species A B C D
Pulmonata 1426 (63.95%) Planorbidae 511 (22.91%) B. pfeifferi 37 (1.66%) 11 18 8 0
I. exutus 456 (20.45%) 257 172 24 3
B. globosus 18 (0.81%) 15 3 0 0
Lymnaeidae 386 (17.31%) L. natalensis 386 (17.31%) 76 131 97 82
Physidae 529 (23.72%) P. marmorata 529 (23.72%) 279 152 77 21
Prosobranchia 804 (36.05%) Bithyniidae 53 (2.38%) G. africana 53 (2.38%) 15 37 1 0
Thiaridae 751 (33.68%) M. tuberculata 450 (20.19%) 248 172 30 0
P. liberiensis 301 (13.49%) 96 123 82 0

(Schepman, 1888), Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774),

Figure 2.  Temporal changes in the abundance of snails in
Eleyele. Species labels: P.m. – P. marmorata, L.n. – L. natalensis,
I.e. – I. exutus, G.a. – G. africana, P.l. – P. liberiensis, M.t. –
M. tuberculata, B.p. – B. pfeifferi, B.g. – B. globosus.
collected in dark reagent bottles and fixed after incuba-
tion in the dark for 5 days.
Statistical analysis
Results were expressed as mean  ±  SD for continuous
variables and percentage (%) for categorical variables.
The correlation coefficient was calculated to determine
the relationship between snail abundance and physico-
chemical parameters, and also the relationship between
snail species pairs. Statistical Package for Social Sciences
(SPSS) version 16.0 software for windows was used for
the analysis.
Results
The occurrence, diversity, and abundance of snails
A total of 2230 snails (sub-classes Prosobranchia and
Pulmonata, 5 families and 8 species) were collected
during the sampling period. The family Planorbidae
had the highest species composition of 3; Thiaridae
had 2; while Bithynidae, Lymnaeidae and Physidae
had 1 species each (Table 2). Three of these species,
namely Indoplanorbis exutus (Deshayes, 1834), Lymnaea
natalensis (Krauss, 1848) and Physa marmorata (Guilding,
1828) were distributed at all sampling points, whereas
Gabbiella africana (Frauenfeld 1862), Potadoma liberiensis
Biomphalaria pfeifferi (Krauss, 1848), and Bulinus ­globosus
(Morelet, 1866) were not found at sampling point D dur-
ing the study period. Lymnaeidae and Physidae were
represented at all sampling points, whereas Thiaridae,
Planorbidae, and Bithyniidae were not found in sam-
pling point D (Table 2). The spatial distribution of snails
shows that sampling point A had the highest percent-
age of mollusc abundance of 44.71% and richness with
8 species; sampling point B had 36.23% with 8 species;
sampling point C had 14.30% with 7 species, while sam-
pling point D with 4.76% had the poorest composition
with 3 species (Table 2).
Observation of the monthly variation in composi-
tion and abundance of mollusc assemblages shows
that representatives of Pulmonata were the most
abundant snails throughout the sampling period
(Figure 2). The highest abundance of snails was
observed between September and October (late rainy
season), while the least number of snails was found
between June and July (early rainy season). This table
also shows that all species were present throughout
the sampling period, except B. globosus that was
absent from July to October and G. africana which
was absent only in July.
Physicochemical parameters
The values of physicochemical parameters determined
at Eleyele dam during the course of the study are sum-
marised in Table 3. The water temperature range was
found to be 26.00–30.00 °C. The mean of water depth
at which physicochemical parameters were taken was
25 cm, while the pH range was 6.94–8.88.
In Eleyele sampling points, water had high alkalinity,
conductivity and suspended material. The conductivity
during the study ranged between 46.70 and 290.00 μS/cm,
while nitrate level varied between 0.01 and 6.55 mg/l. The
alkalinity ranged from 3.00 to 126.00 mg/l, while total
hardness varied from 2.37 to 65.00 mg/l. The mean of
dissolved oxygen and BOD was 2.65 mg/l and 0.86 mg/l,
respectively, during the study. Dissolved calcium in water
varied between 5.02 and 98.85 mg/l and the mean was
48.67 mg/l.
 Zoology and Ecology   5

Table 3. Physicochemical parameter values (mean ± SD and range in parentheses) at four sampling points in Eleyele dam, Ibadan
(May–October 2013).
Parameters Point A Point B Point C Point D
Conductivity (μS/cm) 127.93 ± 31.426 125.90 ± 30.849 122.52 ± 29.214 119.18 ± 28.346
(47.60–290.00) (46.70–290.00) (49.60–280) (46.80–274.00)
pH 7.96 ± 0.875 8.02 ± 0.155 8.04 ± 0.185 7.92 ± 0.175
(6.98–8.55) (6.98–8.68) (7.10–8.88) (6.94–8.85)
Water temperature (°C) 28.17 ± 0.3875 28.33 ± 0.333 28.50 ± 0.230 28.42 ± 0.36
(26.00–30.00) (26.00–30.00) (28.00–30.00) (26.00–30.00)
Water depth (cm) 28.00 ± 2.778 22.50 ± 2.583 24.42 ± 0.811 27.00 ± 1.261
(8.00–43.00) (8.00–36.00) (19.00–28.00) (20.00–35.00)
Dissolved oxygen (mg/l) 2.76 ± 0.333 2.80 ± 0.346 2.68 ± 0.417 2.31 ± 0.243
(1.02–4.78) (0.51–4.78) (0.81–6.60) (1.12–3.56)
Biological oxygen demand (mg/l) 0.99 ± 0.302 0.96 ± 0.295 0.80 ± 0.269 0.57 ± 0.0859
(0.10–3.66) (0.00–3.66) (0.20–3.66) (0.10–1.12)
Nitrate (mg/l) 1.33 ± 0.390 0.88 ± 0.387 1.96 ± 0.715 1.46 ± 0.550
(0.02–4.78) (0.01–4.68) (0.02–3.66) (0.03–6.55)
Calcium (mg/l) 37.39 ± 9.974 23.68 ± 5.389 35.65 ± 9.201 26.15 ± 6.649
(5.02–98.85) (5.02–61.01) (5.26–92.70) (2.31–71.78)
Alkalinity (mg/l) 46.58 ± 14.929 43.63 ± 13.786 41.96 ± 12.689 40.33 ± 12.091
(4.00–126.00) (3.10–120.00) (4.00–106.00) (3.00–100)
Total hardness (mg/l) 25.99 ± 7.404 25.27 ± 7.217 25.60 ± 6.920 24.49 ± 6.720
(2.99–65.00) (2.99–64.00) (2.70–62.00) (2.37–61.00)
Total suspended solids (mg/l) 60.24 ± 14.261 60.55 ± 14.391 67.85 ± 16.427 63.94 ± 15.222
(8.96–120.40) (8.96–125.00) (9.60–156.05) (8.9–133.95)
Total solids (mg/l) 142.87 ± 22.211 131.07 ± 22.590 115.58 ± 21.455 148.05 ± 20.728
(41.75–268.00) (40.95–285.00) (44.00–248.00) (43.00–252.20)
Total dissolved solids (mg/l) 87.55 ± 18.203 75.48 ± 20.547 84.14 ± 15.967 84.39 ± 16.576
(26.20–194.00) (6.00–194) (26.30–180.00) (24.70–188.00)

Table 4. Correlation matrix between physicochemical parameters and snail numbers in Eleyele dam, May–October 2013.
P. marmorata L. natalensis I. exutus G. africana P. liberiensis M. tuberculata B. pfeifferi B. globosus
Conductivity −0.389** 0.358*
Temp −0.302*
Water depth 0.349* −0.442** −0.438** −0.412**
Biological oxygen demand 0.331*
Nitrate −0.373**
Calcium 0.341*
Alkalinity 0.384** 0.380**
Total hardness 0.347* 0.388**
Total suspended solids −0.303*
Total solids
Total dissolved solids −0.294* −0.404** 0.387**

*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01.

Relationship between physicochemical parameters
and snail abundance
In Eleyele dam, 18 significant correlations were found
between physicochemical parameters and the snail
species numbers and densities in Eleyele dam (Table 4).
Dissolved oxygen and pH has no significant correla-
tion with the densities of any of the freshwater snails in
Eleyele dam.
Water depth correlated positively with P. marmorata
and B. globosus and negatively with B. pfeifferi. Alkalinity
correlated positively with L. natalensis and P. liberiensis,
while conductivity correlated positively with B. globosus
and negatively with P. liberiensis.
Relationship between the type of bottom
sediments, macrophytes and snail abundance
Sampling point A with bottom sediments of sand and silt
had the highest distribution, abundance, and diversity
of snails and the highest macrophyte abundance, while
highly muddy sampling point D was observed to have
the least macrophyte abundance, as well as the least
abundance and diversity of snails (Tables 1 and 5).
Discussion
Stable coexistence of freshwater snail community can
be found only in habitats which are capable of sup-
porting mutually exclusive and conducive niches for
different species. The abundance of gastropods such as
M. tuberculata and P. marmorata without the presence of
any bivalve is a strong indication of pollution (organic) in
Eleyele dam. Bivalves are more sensitive to water quality
than gastropods; therefore, the distribution of bivalves is
restricted mostly to water bodies of high qualities, with
the exception of a few species such as some Pisidium
spp. (Bennion et al. 2015), while many gastropod spe-
cies are tolerant to most physicochemical parameters of
freshwater, making them widely distributed in different
freshwater environments (Strzelec and Królczyk 2004;
Sharma, Sharma, and Sawhney 2009).
6    O. O. Oloyede et al.
Table 5. Plant species present and description of bottom sedi-
ment at each sampling point.
Macrophyte species Point A Point B Point C Point D
Pentodon pentandrus ++ + + NP
Cynodonn lemfuensis ++ ++ + +
Polygonum saliefolum ++ + NP NP
Ludwigia abyssinia + + + NP
Eichhornia crassipes +++ +++ + NP
Musa paradisiaca +++ + ++ NP
Musa sapientum +++ + + NP
Commelina diffusa ++ + NP NP
Notes: + – species present, ++ – species abundant, +++ – species very
abundant, NP – not present.
Out of the 8 species of snails collected from the study
area, 4 were of medical importance, which are interme-
diate hosts of animal and human diseases. L. natalensis
is an intermediate host of Fasciola gigantica in many
parts of Africa (Brown 1994), M. tuberculata is medically
important because it can serve as the first intermediate
host for the human lung fluke Paragonimus westermani
(Dundee and Paine 1999). B. pfeifferi is an intermediate
host of Schistosoma mansoni in Nigeria (Adewunmi
et al. 1990). B. globosus is a known intermediate host of
Schistosoma haematobium in Nigeria (Adewunmi et al.
1990) and other parts of Africa (Doumenge et al. 1987).
I. exutus was found to be the most abundant freshwater
vector species, while B. globosus was the least abundant
of the vector species. B. globosus is known to be confined
to small patches, ditches and tributaries of streams and
ponds (Owojori, Asaolu, and Ofoezie 2006).
On the basis of correlation analysis between the
physicochemical parameters and snail species, a posi-
tive relationship was observed between conductivity
and P. marmorata, B. globosus and P. liberiensis in Eleyele
dam, and this agrees with Ofoezie (1999) who recorded a
significant relationship between conductivity and fresh-
water snail abundance. Idowu, Inyang, and Eyo (2008)
also recorded a positive correlation between conductiv-
ity and mollusc abundance in the littoral region of Lake
Alau, Maiduguri Borno state. However, Owojori, Asaolu,
and Ofoezie (2006) observed no significant correlation
between mollusc population and conductivity.
No significant relationship was observed between
dissolved oxygen and snail abundance. Owojori, Asaolu,
and Ofoezie (2006) also recorded no significant corre-
lation between snail density and dissolved oxygen in
Opa reservoir in Ile-Ife. However, Idowu, Inyang, and
Eyo (2008) reported a positive correlation between
dissolved oxygen and mollusc abundance. Hussein
et al. (2011) reported a negative correlation between DO
and Lanistes carinatus and between DO and Bellamya
unicolor. A positive correlation was recorded between
DO and Cleopatra bulimoides and also between DO and
Biomphalaria alexandrina.
A positive significant relationship was recorded
between total hardness of water and the duo of
L. natalensis and P. libieriensis. Cañete et al. (2004)
indicated that total hardness seemed to play some
important role in Lymnaea abundance. Hussein et al.
(2011) reported a negative correlation between the total
hardness and B. alexandrina.
In this study, a negative relationship was recorded
between water depth and G. africana, B. pfeifferi and
B. globosus and a positive relationship between water
depth and P. marmorata. This is in accordance with
El-Kady et al. (2000) where the most effective ecological
factor acting upon snail population density in irrigation
channels was the water depth and Hussein et al. (2011)
who reported a negative correlation between water
depth and C. bulimoides, Theodoxus niloticus, Cleopatra
smithi, and Bulinus truncatus.
We found no significant relationship between snail
abundance and pH, and this agrees with Ofoezie (1999)
and Cañete et al. (2004) that pH is rarely a factor limit-
ing the distribution and abundance of freshwater snails
in their various habitats. However, this study does not
agree with the works by Owojori, Asaolu, and Ofoezie
(2006) which recorded a positive correlation between
pH (pH range 6.9–7.5) and Potadoma sp. and also with
Kazibwe et al. (2006) who reported a negative corre-
lation between pH and Biomphalaria sp. Hussein et al.
(2011) observed that pH was negatively correlated with
L. carinatus and B. unicolor and positively correlated with
C. bulimoides, M. tuberculata and T. niloticus. There was a
negative significant relationship between temperature
and B. globosus densities in Eleyele dam, and this is not
in accordance with the findings of Ofoezie (1999) who
reported no significant relationship between freshwa-
ter snails and temperature at various study sites. Also,
Owojori, Asaolu, and Ofoezie (2006) reported that there
was no significant correlation between snail density and
temperature. However, this study agrees with Kazibwe et
al. (2006) who recorded a positive relationship between
Biomphalaria sp. abundance and water temperature in
Lake Albert, Western Uganda and Hussein et al. (2011)
who reported a positive correlation between water
temperature and Bellamya unicolor and also between
temperature and Lanistes carintus at Qena Governorate,
Upper Egypt. In this study, a positive relationship was
recorded between dissolved calcium in water and
P. liberiensis. Hussein et al. (2011) recorded a nega-
tive correlation between calcium concentration and
Biomphalaria unicolor, S. cleopatra, Potadoma sp., and
B. alexandrina, i.e. decrease in snail abundance with
increase in calcium concentration.
In Eleyele dam, most of the accessible habitats (sam-
pling points) are used for human activities such as
bathing, fishing and washing clothes or for agricultural
purposes.
The highest gastropod count was recorded dur-
ing late rainy season (September–October), while
the lowest was recorded during early rainy season
(June and July) from Eleyele dam. This corresponds
with Owojori, Asaolu, and Ofoezie (2006) who studied
river and ponds in Ile-Ife. This study does not agree

with the findings of that recorded the highest count
of gastropods in March in Beheira Province and also
with the study of El-Kady et al. (2000) who recorded
the highest freshwater snail number in April in Sinai
Peninsula.
On the basis of seasonal variation, most of the snails
in the dam showed marked seasonal variation in density,
the pattern of which is common in all species. In spite of
this, the peak abundance of snails was recorded in May
for P. mamorata; in September/October for L. ­natalensis,
G. africana, and I. exutus; in June for B. pfeifferi and
B. globosus; in June/July for M. tuberculata; and in August/
October for I. exutus. This trend agrees with the reports
of several researchers from south-west Nigeria (Owojori,
Asaolu, and Ofoezie 2006) and Igwun, eastern Nigeria
(Udonsi 1990). However, it contrasts with the bimodal
pattern seen in Yola, northern Nigeria (Akogun and Okin
1993); Oyan, south-west Nigeria (Ofoezie 1999), Lake
Volta Ghana (Klumpp and Chu 1977) and Lake Kariba,
Zambia (Hira 1969).
In this study, sampling points A, B, and C are character-
ised by clear human activities in the surroundings, while
no activity was recorded at point D. Snails were recorded
at all sampling points, but sampling point D with unclear
human activities and the least plant abundance and dis-
tribution harboured the least number of snail species and
the lowest abundance. The human activity did not show
any significant effect on the distribution of the snails. In
a study by Lydig (2009) on factors affecting distribution
of freshwater pulmonates in Tanzania, high prevalence
of Biomphalaria spp. Bulinus spp., and Lymnaea spp. was
found in habitats with human contact at Babati District.
The vegetation types and abundance have a great
role to play in the distribution of freshwater snail species
(Brogan and Relyea 2015). Eichhornia crassipes is a free
floating aquatic plant reproducing both vegetatively via
ramets formed from auxiliary buds on stolons and asexu-
ally through seed production, and on several occasions,
eggs of freshwater snails have been found deposited on
them (Owojori, Asaolu, and Ofoezie 2006).
Sampling point A was observed to have the high-
est plant species composition and abundance with
E. crassipes population outnumbering populations of
other plants. Also, point A was recorded to have the high-
est number of snail species and abundance. This could
be a result of the favourable environmental conditions
at this sampling point, such as the plant species richness
and abundance and the type of bottom sediment. On
the contrary, sampling point D was observed to have
the least snail species richness, diversity and abundance.
This is a result of unfavourable environmental condi-
tions which could be a result of highly muddy bottom
sediments present and sparse plants. The results of this
study agree with the work of El-Khayat et al. (2011) who
recorded a strong association between freshwater snails,
especially the Biomphalaria spp. and Physa spp. and
Zoology and Ecology   7
aquatic plants such as E. crassipes and Lemna gibba,
Nymhaea lotus.
In this study, high numbers of I. exutus, P. marmo-
rata, P. liberiensis and L. natalensis were collected from
Eleyele, which may be attributed to high abundance
of aquatic vegetation, mostly E. crassipes, N. lotus and
attachments to leaves of fallen Musa spp., while M.
tuberculata were mostly found in bottom sediments at
the sampling points. This agrees with Owojori, Asaolu,
and Ofoezie (2006) who reported that Physa spp. were
highly associated with E. crassipes. Other studies also
reported higher abundance of snails with the presence of
E. crassipes (Plummer 2005). These plants provide surface
for egg deposition and shelter for snail species (Holland,
Chiaverano, and Howard 2016). The snails were com-
monly found attached to identified water macrophytes,
especially E. crassipes, N. lotus, fallen leaves of Musa
sapientum, M. paradisiaca, and sometimes were found
attached to surfaces of submerged items such as dead
logs, decaying leaves and junks in water. The abundance
of gastropods may be due to the types of aquatic habi-
tats around the dam which mostly support the growth
of freshwater snails. Spatial and monthly variation was
observed in the population of snails in this study, which
varied with the physicochemical parameters of the water
body, and this agrees with Idowu, Inyang, and Eyo (2008).
The relationship between macrovegetation diversity
and abundance and bottom sediments has been known
for some time (Bailey 1988). It was observed during this
study that sampling point A with the most diverse veg-
etation has a sandy muddy bottom with organic silt.
This agrees with the observation of Costil and Clement
(1996) but does not agree with Patzner and Isarch (1999).
The type of bottom sediments at each sampling point is
very important in this respect. The impact of various sed-
iments on freshwater snail diversity has been known for
some time. In this study, freshwater snails were observed
to be most abundant at sampling point A which is known
to have a sandy bottom with organic silt and followed by
sampling point B which is observed to have a sandy bot-
tom with detritus. This study agrees with Collier, Ilcock,
and Meredith (1998) and Dillon (2000).
Conclusion
The physicochemical parameters in Eleyele dam are
favourable for the thriving of snails, and this will lead
to increase in their abundance. This study has identified
various factors such as water depth, BOD, alkalinity, total
suspended solids, total hardness, conductivity, as well as
the presence and absence of macrophytes like water hya-
cinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and water lily (Nymhaea lotus)
as important factors that determine the abundance and
distribution of snail species in Eleyele dam. The habitat
types and the bottom sediments may also influence
the abundance of snails. The presence and absence of
8    O. O. Oloyede et al.
aquatic macrophytes may have a great influence on the
abundance and distribution of snails. Clearing of the
macrophytes may reduce the population of snails, espe-
cially those that act as intermediate hosts for diagnostic
trematodes.
Acknowledgment
Special thanks to the entire staff of Nigeria Institute of
Oceanography and Marine Research for making their lab-
oratory accessible to me for my laboratory work and also to
the entire staff of the Department of Zoology, University of
Ibadan, Ibadan.
ORCID
Oyedibu Oyebayo Oloyede   http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4830-
4938
Benson Otarigho   http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6347-3831
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