Abstract
The influence of water velocities of less than 30 cm/s on drifting of Bulinus globosus in a natural stream was investigated. It is shown that although a low water velocity does not sweep away adhering snails, it carries away snails releasing their hold and crawling along the water surface in search of new food sources. A low water velocity therefore assists considerably to the spreading of a snail species. Vegetation was found to have a decisive impact on local water velocity conditions by reducing the current and creating protected pockets. Upstream migration was found not to be common among Bulinus globosus.
In addition, evidence for snail drifting under natural conditions within well established Schistosoma haematobium transmission sites is presented.
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Marti, H.P., Tanner, M. Field observations on the influence of low water velocities on drifting of Bulinus globosus. Hydrobiologia 157, 119–123 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006964
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006964