Biomphalaria

Collection of Biomphalaria View in CoL freshwater snails

Freshwater snails were collected by scooping using handheld metal sieve scoops according to a standard protocol [ 18]. Collections were carried out by three trained and experienced technicians for 15 min per sampling site. Brief descriptions of all sampling sites (e.g. water depth, degree of vegetation, whether sites were temporal pools located away from the lake’s edge or were at the lake’s edge) were recorded. Te same sampling protocol was applied regardless of the environmental conditions at the sample site. Biomphalaria were initially identified to genus level based on shell morphology according to previous morphological descriptions [ 25] and collected into small screwcap pots containing lake water and lake vegetation for short-term (<3 h) transportation. Shortly after collection, Biomphalaria were maintained in aquaria, also containing lake water and lake vegetation, according to collection site.