Nematode abundance, diversity and functional indices were investigated at a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in southern China and a temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest in central China to illustrate the effects of climate and vegetation on energy pathways and nematode diversity in soil food webs. The results showed that the biomass, indexes of MI, SI, PPI, H' and SR at 0-10 cm soil depth, and SI index at 10-20 cm soil depth in southern China were greater than those in central China. Besides, the NCR index was greater than 0.5 at a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in southern China, but it was less than 0.5 at a temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest in central China, indicating that bacterial energy channel dominated in the former forest ecosystem and the fungal energy channel dominated in the latter. Overall, there was a difference in nematode community between two forest ecosystems, and nematodes could be used as bio-indicators for soil nutrient status and energy channel pathway.