SOIL NEMATODE BIODIVERSITY IN TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS

Authors
Citation
B. Boag et Gw. Yeates, SOIL NEMATODE BIODIVERSITY IN TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS, Biodiversity and conservation, 7(5), 1998, pp. 617-630
Citations number
73
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Environmental Sciences",Ecology,"Biology Miscellaneous
ISSN journal
0960-3115
Volume
7
Issue
5
Year of publication
1998
Pages
617 - 630
Database
ISI
SICI code
0960-3115(1998)7:5<617:SNBITE>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
A review of the literature on nematode diversity (= number of species identified) of soil inhabiting nematodes was undertaken and analysed w ith regard to distance from the equator, vegetation type and sampling effort. After applying a correction factor for sampling effort the res ults indicated that species richness was greatest in temperate broadle af forest (61.7 species per sample) followed by cultivated soil, grass land, tropical rainforest, temperate coniferous forests and polar vege tation. The maintenance of high biodiversity in cultivated soils is un expected but may reflect the impact of dominance in calculating many i ndices. Species richness was greatest between latitudes 30-40 degrees (93.9 species per sample) and least above 70 degrees, the mean richnes s near the equator (i.e. 0-10 degrees) was 80.6 species per sample. Wh ile these data would suggest that nematode diversity is not necessaril y greatest at the equator, and evidence to support a 'humped back' the ory of species richness is not conclusive, they contradict the suggest ion that nematode diversity increases with increased latitude.