Assessment of distribution and diversity of snails in Lyamuliro wetland in Muko sub county in Rubanda District

Abstract

It was found out that the part of the wetland that was converted into an agricultural land has about three times fewer snails than the intact part. Out of the total snails captured in the wetland and identified, the species diversity consisted of Biomphalaria pfeifferi (50%), Biomphalaria sudanica (23%), Bulinus forskalli (14%), Bulinus tropicalis (9%) and Ferrissia spp (4%) with the first two being the most important secondary hosts for Schistosoma mansoni before it is transferred into human beings as one of its primary host hosts ((Greenwood,2008,).This led to a conclusion that wetland conversion negatively affects the distribution of snails in the wetland hence necessitating its restoration and conservation to have this group of animals saved from possible extinctions.