Discussion of a master’s thesis
The Department of biology at the College of Education for Pure Sciences discussed the master’s thesis by the student (Abeer Fadel Khudair), entitled (Textological and Biological Study of Bellamya spp. in Karbala Governorate). Under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr. (Israa Nasser Ghulam). The current study aimed to achieve the following:
1. Extensive study of freshwater snails (spp Bellamya) in Al-Ayouj and Al-Rashdiya stations to see the details of their life, reproduction, density, population structure, living mass, and secondary productivity due to the importance of this snail in the aquatic environment.
2. Determining the characteristics of the aquatic environment in which the snails live (water quality and the bottom).
3. Histological study of the gonads and some important parts of the body composition of the freshwater snail spp. Bellamya.
The conclusions were:
1- Although Bellamya Bengalensis belongs to the family Viviparidae and most of its members are hermaphrodites, the snail B. bengalensis is separate sex.
2- Females are in a shell that is longer than males.
3- It is difficult to determine the genders morphologically due to the similarity of most of the phenotypical characteristics of the two sexes
4- The length of the shell for the female B. bengalensis is not an indication of the fertility of the snail or not.
5- It is difficult to determine the fertility rate of B. bengalensis (females) since the eggs are clustered and contiguous.
6- The water environment of (Al Rashidiya and Al-Aweej) is a good environment for the abundant spread, reproduction, and availability of B. bengalensis snails.
7- Some environmental factors had a clear impact on the population density of the studied species, such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and soil tissue type.
After extensive scientific discussion and listening to the student’s defense of her thesis, her research method, and her use of sources and references, the thesis was approved with honors. Congratulations to the student, her supervisor, the College of Education for Pure Sciences, and the University of Karbala for this achievement, and God Almighty grants success and payment.
