EVALUATION OF SOIL MOISTURE AND SPECIES DIFFERENCE ON SPERM AND OVA COUNT OF THE GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAILS IN DIFFERENT SEASON

Abstract

The experiment investigates the effect of soil moisture and species differences on the sperm and ova count of the Giant African Land Snails in different season. A total of 48 snails per species weighing between 100 and 200g were exposed to two different so per replicate over a period of 52 weeks. At the end of each season, snails from each species and soil moisture level were randomly selected for dissection to obtain the reproductive tracts and each of the organs observed was lacerated and mixed with 5 ml of saline water, the mixture was observed under microscope for the sperm and ova count. No significant seasonal differences (P>0.05) were observed on the ova and sperm counts. Significant species effects (P<0 and 1.105) but not for sperm count (P>0.05) for Achatina achatina and Archachatina marginata respectively. Significant soil moisture level differences (P<0.01) were observed on ova counts (0.543 and 1.083) but not for respectively. There was significant interaction between soil moisture level and season for sperm count (P<0.01); between the soil moisture and species for sperm count (P<0.05), was higher in low soil moisture condition for A. achatina. There was no significant interaction between season and species; and between season, soil moisture and species for ova and sperm count (P>0.05). (2017) FJPAS Vol 2(1) ISSN: 111 EVALUATION OF SOIL MOISTURE AND SPECIES DIFFERENCE ON SPERM AND OVA COUNT OF THE GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAILS IN DIFFERENT SEASON Ajayi, O.A., 2 Abioja, M.O and 2 O. A. Osinowo, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, P.M.B. 373, Oye Ekiti, Nigeria. Department of Animal Physiology, 3 Department of Microbiological Sciences, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Available online at www.fuoye.edu.ng The experiment investigates the effect of soil moisture and species differences on the sperm and ova count of the Giant African Land Snails in different season. A total of 48 snails per species weighing between 100 and 200g were exposed to two different soil moisture levels with 6 snails of each species per replicate over a period of 52 weeks. At the end of each season, snails from each species and soil moisture level were randomly selected for dissection to obtain the reproductive tracts and each of the gans observed was lacerated and mixed with 5 ml of saline water, the mixture was observed under microscope for the sperm and ova count. No significant seasonal differences (P>0.05) were observed on the ova and sperm counts. Significant species effects (P<0.05) was observed on ova counts (0.521 and 1.105) but not for sperm count (P>0.05) for Achatina achatina and Archachatina marginata respectively. Significant soil moisture level differences (P<0.01) were observed on ova counts (0.543 and 1.083) but not for sperm count (P>0.05) for snails in the low and high soil moisture conditions, respectively. There was significant interaction between soil moisture level and season for sperm count (P<0.01); between the soil moisture and species for sperm count (P<0.05), was higher in low soil moisture condition for A. achatina. There was no significant interaction between season and species; and between season, soil moisture and species for ova and sperm count (P>0.05).