SNAILS AS BIOLOGICAL MONITOR (BIOINDICATOR) | Asian Journal of Advances in Research
Many water bodies can be monitored for biochemical or behavioural changes that may signal a problem within their ecosystem using a biological monitor, which displays the qualitative status of the environment. Bioindicators can reveal the ecosystem's cumulative effects of various contaminants. Molluscs serve an essential ecological function in the world's aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems due to their widespread distribution and large number of species. They are important species for ecosystem functioning because they supply a large quantity of biomass to ecosystems at various trophic levels. Snails are the only mollusks that can be used for bioindication and biomonitoring purposes in terrestrial ecosystems because gastropods are the only mollusks that can be found there. Snails serve an important role in freshwater ecosystems by supplying food for other creatures such as fish and improving water quality by digesting enormous amounts of debris and algae. Heavy metal builds up in the soft sections of the animal's body, as well as in the Gastropoda shell. Environmental parameters such as water flow, water availability, pH, sediment, salinity, and others influence the bioaccumulation of heavy metals by gastropods. Please see the link :- http://mbimph.com/index.php/AJOAIR/article/view/1639
