Soil Bacteria Load and the Effect on the Survival of Archachatina Marginata

Abstract

The experiment was carried out for sixty days with soil samples collected from three different locations in Fenders Snail Farm and labelled as L1(undisturbed land), L2(Undisturbed with vegetation) and location L3 (Sandfilled damp land). The study was undertaken to determine the effect of soil bacteria load in three different categories of a snail farm land on the survival of Archachatina marginata. The total bacteria count of the soil samples were estimated using the Standard Spread Plate Technique. A pH meter was used to monitor the soil pH.  Bacterial isolates were identified based on their cultural, morphological and behavioural characteristics using established characters. Snail species reared on the farm were Archachatina marginata. A total of 12 species of bacteria were recorded at the three locations within the farm. The bacteria species were widely distributed except Alcaligens Vibrio, Klebsiel and Proteus species. The highest number of bacteria was recorded in location L1.  Bacillus spp was the most dominant bacteria species with the highest Relative Abundance recorded during the study while Aspergillus spp was the most dominant fungi species. Bacteria and fungi were typical of an environment with specie richness. The microorganisms isolated are capable of causing diseases in snails especially Pseudomonas. There