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rom India to Africa: How did Indoplanorbis exustus become a global ecological threat
In global ecosystems, the spread and invasiveness of certain organisms can have a huge impact on the local environment. Among them, the aquatic lung snail Indoplanorbis exustus is a typical example. Due to its ability to spread across tropical areas and serve as an intermediate host for a variety of parasites, this snail appears to be emerging as a global ecological threat, posing challenges to human health, agriculture, and natural ecosystems.
Biological Classification
Indoplanorbis exustus is the only known species belonging to the Indigo tradition of the Hydra family. Depending on the specific study, the species shows some genetic diversity across different geographic ranges, meaning it may actually consist of more than one species.
Distribution Range
This freshwater snail is widely distributed in Iran, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, and has even been found throughout Africa. Studies have shown that its introduction into Africa is mostly due to human activities, and this movement has made the spread of the species more rapid and difficult to control.
In the United States,
Indoplanorbis exustusis considered a potentially serious threat because of its potential to have severe impacts on agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health, and commercial activities.
Ecological characteristics
The species has strong ecological adaptability and can survive environmental changes. It has an extremely high reproductive capacity, relying on water temperatures above 15°C to mature, and can lay up to 800 eggs per year at an optimum of 30°C. This self-fertilizing trait allows it to quickly establish stable populations in new environments.
Parasites and Human Health
Economically and medically, Indoplanorbis exustus serves as an intermediate host for several parasites, particularly for several species of the genus Schistosoma. This makes it an important role in agriculture and human life, especially in cattle infections and related allergic reactions caused by aquatic environments.
Due to this reservoir, humans often develop "scaly itch," an allergic reaction that causes itching and inflammation of the skin when exposed to water.
Control and management strategies
To control the spread of this species, some researchers are considering using biological control methods, such as introducing its natural enemies to reduce its population. Accordingly, many plant extracts have also been found to have certain toxicity to it, and further serve as important candidates for control measures.
SummaryGiven the invasive nature of Indoplanorbis exustus and its impact on the ecological environment, experts call for more effective regulatory and control measures to address this global problem. As an important indicator of biodiversity, should we re-evaluate the nature of this species’ role in the global environment to find better solutions?
