Consumption Rates of Invasive Freshwater Gastropod Pomacea Canaliculata on Aquatic Plants from Shatt Al-Arab River, Basra, Iraq

Abstract

Pomacea canaliculata (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae) is a common species in many parts of the world and an important consumer of aquatic macrophytes. We conducted laboratory tests to quantify the rates of consumption of aquatic plants in Shatt Al-Arab River, Basra, Iraq. six freshwater plant species were presented to an invasive P. canaliculata in laboratory tests.

This study was carried out during January to December 2017 to evaluate the consumption rates to specific aquatic plants than others by freshwater snails Pomacea canaliculata. Specimens of Snails were collected from ponds in intertidal zones at banks of Shatt al-Arab River near Al- Salhyaa canal in Shatt Al- Arab city  from aquatic plants; Typha domingensis, Phragmites australis, Bacopa monniera, Ceratophyllum demersum and Potamogeton crispus. The presence of these Specimens aquatic plants was affected by the water temperature and   salinity, they almost disappear in winter leading to low snail numbers at that season.

Statistical analysis shows a significant differences (P<0.05) between numbers of snails on five aquatic plants in the field that were these are collected.

Bacopa monniera , Lemna minor, C. demersum and P. crispus were the higher preferred to snails in this study, while T. domingensis, P. australis recorded lower preferred by snails.

In this study we use snail Pomacea canaliculata as a biological control agent of common macrophyte weeds species.

Results indicated that P. canaliculata reared on Lemna, Bacopa, Ceratophyllum and Potamogeton had the highest food preference and consumption rates, but all individuals fed with Phragmites showed lowest feeding consumption rates and little the food preference. significantly differing from the others. However, in the absence of Bacopa , Lemna, Ceratophyllum and Potamogeton were consumed.

Keywords: Consumption rate, aquatic plants, Pomacea canaliculata, Snail .

DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/52-07