Abstract: Objective To assess the feasibility of applying marking & recapture approach to estimating the population quantity of Oncomelania hupensis at the field experiment base. Methods Population quantity of snails in the ditches at the field experiment base was estimated using marking & recapture method, and compared with the findings by conventional snail population investigation for evaluation of the feasibility of this technique in field survey of the snail quantity. Results The average population quantity of snails estimated in the six ditches was 3 833, 3 345, 6 951, 4 772, 3 329 and 4 188 heads in spring season and 4 190, 3 486, 7 808, 5 344, 3 968 and 4 772 heads in autumn, respectively by the method of marking &
recapture; and 3 765, 3 251, 6 994, 4 739, 3 304 and 4 105 heads in spring and 4 094, 3 471, 7 866, 5 304, 3 729 and 4 696 in autumn, respectively, by conventional snail population investigation. The consistency was better for the two methods. Conclusion Marking & recapture method can be used to estimate the population quantity of snails under the certain environment.

Key words: Oncomelania hupensis, Marking &, recapture method, Snail investigation, Population quantity