Objective: To analyze the spatial characteristic on the distribution of Oncomelania hupensis in mountainous regions.
Methods: Based on the geographic database of snail distribution in Puge county, Sichuan province, spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatial scan statistics were applied to analyze the spatial characteristic of snail distribution.
Results: With regard to the rate of frame with snails, the global Moran's I indicator was 0.095 (P < 0.05), which indicated the spatial autocorrelation of snail distribution in Puge county. Data from the local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that there were 28 snail habitats with statistically significant differences on local indicators of spatial autocorrelation (LISA) value (P < 0.05), among which existed high-high, low-low, low-high and high-low four types of correlation model. The Spatial Scan Statistics had in total identified 24 snail habitat clusters (P < 0.05), including 14 high rate clusters and 10 low rate clusters, and the result was similar to that of LISA analysis.
Conclusion: There were spatial autocorrelation and spatial aggregation of snail distribution in mountainous regions, meanwhile spatial heterogeneity of snail distribution also existed. This law could be explored for better control of snails.