An Ecological Study of Molluscs in Shaqra River (Latakia- Syria) and A New Record of Species Planorbis carinatus (Muller, 1774)

Abstract

Ecological and taxonomic study of molluscs was carried out in waters of Shaqra river (Jableh city- Lattakia Governorate- Syria) from January to December 2023. In this study, the species Planorbis carinatus was recorded for the first time in the Syria Coast with high constance degree (75%). In general, nine molluscan species were identified; 8 species belong to the class Gastropoda ((two species belong to sub-class Prosobranchia (Melanopsis praemorsa  &Valvata saulcyi) and six species belong sub-class Pulmonata (Physa acuta, Physa syriaca, Lymnaea auricularia, Oxyloma elegans, Planorbis umbilicatus, Planrbis carinatus), and one species belong to the class Bivalvia
 (Pisidium cedrorum). Some chemical and physical characteristics of waters of selected area were studied; temperatures were moderate and between 12 and 24 ˚C. Dissolved salts showed that waters were calcareous and pungent in nature. The rate of organic pollutants was high in the summer and autumn. It is recommended that taxonomic studies of aquatic mollusca in different fresh water habitats to be continued in the Syria coast, and working on establishing a biodiversity atlas for molluscans in coast region