Micro Land Snail Diversity (Class Gastropoda) in K'laja Karst, Barangay Conel, General Santos City, Southern Mindanao

The Philippines has a rich land snail diversity, largely unexplored due to limited surveys. This study focuses on micro land snails in the K'laja Karst area of General Santos City. The research aims to identify species, assess richness and diversity, and analyze abiotic factors and habitat complexity. Four genera, including Cyclotus sp., Helicostyla sp., Diaphera sp., and Geophorus sp., were identified, belonging to three subclasses (Caenogastropoda, Heterobranchia, and Neritimorpha) and four families (Cyclophoridae, Camaenidae, Diapheridae, and Helicinidae). The area exhibited moderate diversity, with Diaphera being the most abundant species. Habitat complexity positively influenced species diversity, while abiotic factors like humidity, leaf litter depth, and soil pH correlated positively, while temperature showed a negative correlation. The study provides baseline data for micro land snail diversity and highlights the importance of considering habitat complexity and abiotic factors in biodiversity conservation.