Distribution and population dynamics of soil nematodes and their relationship with primary production in a tropical hill ecosystem of sambalpur india
Dash, M.C.; Pradhan, G.B.
Pedobiologia 26(5): 349-359
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-4056
Accession: 005175378
An ecological study of soil nematodes [Helicotylenchus indicus, Orientylus orientylus, Hemicycliophora oostenbrinki, Hemicriconemoides brachyuris, Aphelenchus avenae, Kotylenchoides sp., Acrobeloides sp. Metactinolainus sp., Alaimus sp., Dorylaimus sp., Dorylaimoides sp., Nygolaimus sp., Parahadronchus shakili, Coomansus indicus, Mylonchulus brachyurus, M. hawaiiensis] was carried out at 2 sites in a tropical hill ecosystem. Classification based on trophic groups showed that plant parasites were more diverse at the footslope than the summit site. Microbivores were very few in number. Predators did not show any trend in distribution at different soil depths. Miscellaneous feeders were most important having importance value of maximum 54.8% at the footslope and 84.3% at the summit. The index of generic similarity between the 2 sites was 0.67. The Shannon index of general diversity was greater during Nov. at the footslope (1.47) and Sept. at the summit (1.26). The mean monthly nematode biomass was 93.7 .+-. 37.4 mg fresh mass m-2 with a turnover of 3.6 at the footslope and 46.7 .+-. 17.3 mg fresh mass m-2 with a turnover of 3.1 at the summit. Significant positive correlations between nematode biomass and various components of the vegetation indicate that nematode density and biomass are dependent on the amount of various components of vegetation. A significant negative correlation of biomass with soil temperature was observed.