Nematode Community Structure in Desert Soils: Nematode Recovery

The sugar-flotation-sieving (SFS) and Baermann-funnel (BF) methods were compared for nematode extraction efficiency. The SFS method recovered nematodes from more trophic groups whereas greater total numbers of individuals were recovered by BF. In a test to validate the efficiency of SFS, virtually 100% of the nematodes added to desert soil prior to extraction were recovered by four consecutive SFS washings of each soil sample. Estimations of nematode biomass in desert soils based on numbers of nematodes extracted by the two methods were similar unless there was large reserve of eggs in the soil. The biomass of nematodes from a Colorado desert soil was 0.9 g/m² as determined by both methods, whereas BF gave 0.17 g/m² for nematodes from a Mojave desert soil as compared to 0.9 g/m² with SFS.     

Spatial Patterns of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Microcosms: Implications for Laboratory Experiments

Laboratory microcosms were used to: i) measure the effects of soil moisture on survival of Steinernema riobravis and ii) investigate the suitability of using microcosms to study motility and survival of these nematodes. Nematodes recovered from soil contained in petri dishes declined by more than 95% during 7 days, whereas nematodes recovered from the inner surfaces of dishes increased 35-fold. After 7 days in dishes, >20 times as many nematodes were recovered from dish surfaces than from soil. Nematodes exhibited a negative geotropism; greater numbers of nematodes were recovered from the lid surfaces than from the surfaces of dishes. Survivorship of nematodes in soil in plastic centrifuge tubes was somewhat greater than in petri dishes, and fewer nematodes ascended above the soil line in tubes than dishes. Downward migration of nematodes was inversely related to soil column diameter, possibly due to relatively unimpeded movement along container surfaces. An assay was developed by which nematodes were rinsed from the inner surfaces of centrifuge tubes into the soil. The resulting slurry was then processed on Baermann trays to recover motile nematodes. Nematode survival in soil in centrifuge tubes was higher at soil moistures between 2-4% than at lower (0.5-1.0%) and higher (4.0-12.0%) moisture levels. Survival of S. riobravis may be enhanced by quiescence induced by moisture deficits.     

Effect of Four Nematocides on Activities of Microorganisms in Soil

Tests were conducted to determine the effects of four nematocides, Dasanit, carbofuran, D-D, and Vorlex on microbial activities in a loamy sand. The results indicated that bacterial and fungal populations initially decreased with some nematocide treatments but recovered rapidly to levels similar to those in the controls. In some instances, ammonium production from added peptone increased in the nematocide-treated soils, whereas mineralization of soil organic nitrogen and nitrification and oxidation of elemental sulfur were depressed. Oxygen consumption generally increased in proportion to the concentration of nematocide in the soil. However, with Vorlex, an increase in respiration was evident at the lower concentration, whereas an inhibitory effect occurred at the higher concentration. The study indicated that indigenous soil microorganisms can tolerate these chemicals used for control of nematodes in soil.     

Detection of the nematophagous fungus Hirsutella rhossiliensis in soil by real-time PCR and parasitism bioassay

Hirsutella rhossiliensis, a nematophagous fungus, has shown potential in biocontrol of plant-parasitic nematodes. Monitoring the population dynamics of a biocontrol agent in soil requires comprehensive techniques and is essential to understand how it works. Bioassay based on the fungal parasitism on the juveniles of soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines, can be used to evaluate the activity of the fungus but fails to quantify fungal biomass in soil. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed to quantify the fungal population density in soil. The assay detected as little as 100 fg of fungal genomic DNA and 40 conidia g⁻¹ soil, respectively. The parasitism bioassay and the real-time PCR assay were carried out to investigate the presence, abundance and activity of H. rhossiliensis in soil after application of different inoculum levels. Both of the percentage of assay nematodes parasitized by H. rhossiliensis based on the parasitism bioassay and the DNA yield of the fungus quantified by real-time PCR increased significantly with the increase of the inoculum levels. The DNA yield of the fungus was positively correlated with the percentage of assay nematodes parasitized by H. rhossiliensis. The combination of the two is useful for monitoring fungal biomass and activity in soil.     

Diversity of bacteria associated with grassland soil nematodes of different feeding groups

The bacterial diversity associated with soil nematodes and its relationship with their feeding habits are as yet poorly understood. In the present study the diversity and abundance of bacteria from nematodes and their surrounding soil were analysed and compared. The nematodes were collected from a grassland soil and sorted into bacterial, fungal, plant, predatory and omnivore feeding groups and assigned to taxonomic groups. Total DNA was extracted from the nematodes and partial bacterial 16S rRNA genes were PCR amplified, cloned and sequenced. The abundance and composition of bacterial taxa differed between and within feeding groups. The lowest bacterial diversity was found in the predatory nematodes Prionchulus sp., whereas the highest bacterial diversity was associated with the bacterial-feeding nematode Acrobeles sp. The soil had a more diverse bacterial community than the communities found in the nematode groups. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of bacteria associated with nematodes did not overlap with those detected in soil as determined using the cloning screening approach. However, bacterial sequences identified from nematodes could be detected in the soil with targeted PCR. Our data suggest that the nematodes do not feed on the most abundant bacteria present in soil. Furthermore, several nematodes contained suspected bacterial symbionts and parasites.     

降水格局对北方温带草原土壤微食物网结构的影响

全球气候变化背景下, 降水格局发生改变, 呈现降水总量不变, 但降水强度增加、降水频率降低的趋势, 影响了地下生态系统的结构和功能。土壤微食物网作为地下生态系统的重要组成部分, 在驱动生态系统多功能性方面起着重要作用。降水格局的变化能够通过土壤微食物网的改变对生态系统产生影响。然而, 以往研究多关注于降水量的变化对微食物网的影响, 降水格局变化对其影响的研究较少。因此, 本研究在内蒙古温带草原开展连续8年的降水添加控制试验(控制降水总量不变, 降水频率及强度改变), 包括5个降水强度处理(2 mm、5 mm、10 mm、20 mm和40 mm), 通过磷脂脂肪酸法(PLFA)确定微生物含量, 高通量测序法(16S和ITS)确定微生物多样性及群落结构, 线虫形态学鉴定确定线虫群落组成及结构。结果表明在降水总量不变降水强度改变的背景下, 高降水强度(20 mm)促进了北方温带草原真菌含量的增长, 适度降水强度(10 mm)促进了微生物的多样性。而线虫的多度随着降水强度的增加而增大, 中高降水强度下线虫多样性最高。土壤微食物网的变化进一步影响了生态系统多功能性, 主要通过提高真菌生物量、食真菌线虫多度和线虫多样性, 从而提高了生态系统多功能性。     

Nematode consumption by mite communities varies in different forest microhabitats as indicated by molecular gut content analysis

Soil animals live in complex and heterogeneous habitats including litter of various types but also microhabitats such as mosses, fungal mats and grass patches. Soil food webs have been separated into a slow fungal and a fast bacterial energy channel. Bacterial-feeding nematodes are an important component of the bacterial energy channel by consuming bacteria and forming prey for higher trophic levels such as soil microarthropods. Investigating the role of nematodes as prey for higher trophic level consumers has been hampered by methodological problems related to their small body size and lack in skeletal structures which can be traced in the gut of consumers. Recent studies using molecular gut content analyses suggest that nematodes form major prey of soil microarthropods including those previously assumed to live as detritivores. Using molecular markers we traced nematode prey in fourteen abundant soil microarthropod taxa of Mesostigmata and Oribatida (both Acari) from three different microhabitats (litter, grass and moss). Consumption of nematodes varied between mite species indicating that trophic niche variation contributes to the high diversity of microarthropods in deciduous forests. Further, consumption of nematodes by Mesostigmata (but not Oribatida) differed between microhabitats indicating that trophic niches vary with habitat characteristics. Overall, the results suggest that free-living bacterial-feeding nematodes form important prey for soil microarthropods including those previously assumed to live as detritivores.     

Changes in Vertical Distribution of Pratylenchus scribneri under Potato and Corn

The vertical distribution of Pratylenchus scribneri populations was monitored under irrigated corn and potato grown in loamy sand soil. population estimates were based on the number of nematodes recovered from 100-cm³ soil samples and the roots contained therein. Reproduction was assessed by counting the number of second-stage juveniles. An index of population maturity was computed to evaluate the age structure of populations. At no time were nematodes distributed uniformly among five soil depths from 0 to 37.5 cm deep. During the summer (June-September), changes in the total number of P. scribneri and the number of second-stage juveniles recovered were not consistent among the depths sampled. Early (April-June) and late (September-November) in the season, changes in the abundance, reproduction, and maturity of populations were similar among depths. The timing and pattern of increases in numbers of nematodes suggests that variation in the abundance of P. scribneri in the soil profile beneath potato and corn was caused primarily by reproduction rather than the movement of nematodes.     

Nitrogen Addition Regulates Soil Nematode Community Composition through Ammonium Suppression

Nitrogen (N) enrichment resulting from anthropogenic activities has greatly changed the composition and functioning of soil communities. Nematodes are one of the most abundant and diverse groups of soil organisms, and they occupy key trophic positions in the soil detritus food web. Nematodes have therefore been proposed as useful indicators for shifts in soil ecosystem functioning under N enrichment. Here, we monitored temporal dynamics of the soil nematode community using a multi-level N addition experiment in an Inner Mongolia grassland. Measurements were made three years after the start of the experiment. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the mechanisms regulating nematode responses to N enrichment. Across the N enrichment gradient, significant reductions in total nematode abundance, diversity (H' and taxonomic richness), maturity index (MI), and the abundance of root herbivores, fungivores and omnivores-predators were found in August. Root herbivores recovered in September, contributing to the temporal variation of total nematode abundance across the N gradient. Bacterivores showed a hump-shaped relationship with N addition rate, both in August and September. Ammonium concentration was negatively correlated with the abundance of total and herbivorous nematodes in August, but not in September. Ammonium suppression explained 61% of the variation in nematode richness and 43% of the variation in nematode trophic group composition. Ammonium toxicity may occur when herbivorous nematodes feed on root fluid, providing a possible explanation for the negative relationship between herbivorous nematodes and ammonium concentration in August. We found a significantly positive relationship between fungivores and fungal phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), suggesting bottom-up control of fungivores. No such relationship was found between bacterivorous nematodes and bacterial PLFA. Our findings contribute to the understanding of effects of N enrichment in semiarid grassland on soil nematode trophic groups, and the cascading effects in the detrital soil food web.     

Dynamics of the Entomogenous Nematode Steinernema feltiae Applied to Soil with and without Nematicide Treatment

The dynamics of Steinernema feltiae strain DD-136 in soils with different fauna was investigated to determine the best method for the biological control of soil insects. Infective juveniles (J3) were applied to field plots with and without 1,3-D (Telone II) fumigation. Recovery of J3 and changes in native nematode fauna were monitored until the applied J3 were no longer recovered by Baermann funnel (BF). Recovery of J3 by BF or by a two-step extraction procedure from steam-sterilized or nonsterilized sandy or silty soil with different fauna was investigated. More DD-136 J3 were recovered from the 1,3-D treated soil than from nontreated soil, while native nematodes in the treated soil fluctuated more with the addition of DD-136 than those in nontreated soil. The J3 persisted longer in silty than in sandy soils. The inundative soil application of DD-136 increased native rhabditids and decreased plant-parasitic nematodes. DD-136 in chemically treated soil not only effectively attacked the invading soil insect pests but also suppressed the recovery of plant nematodes.     

Nematode-Capturing Hyphomycetes from Soils over Xerophytic Calcareous Rock in Upper Bavaria*

Nematode-capturing hyphomycetes were isolated from soil and plant debris on the south slope of a hill in the Jurassic of Upper Bavaria. The following species were found: Arthrobotrys arthrobotryoides, A. dactyloides, A. oligospora, A. superba, Dactylella astenopaga, Monacrosporium cionopagum, M. psychrophilum. Endozoic fungal parasites of nematodes were not isolated. With one fungal propagule of nematode-destroying fungi in 1.7 g soil, the density is only slightly lower than values given for agricultural soils.     

Survival and Horizontal Movement of Infective Stage Neoaplectana carpocapsae in the Field

Infective stage Neoaplectana carpocapsae were applied to a furrow of loam soil in the field. At regular intervals over a 7-week period, soil samples were taken at distances of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm on either side of the furrow. Live, infective nematodes were recovered from the soil at all sampling dates over the 7-week period, and nematodes slowly spread out from the original line of application, averaging a distance of 4.35 cm/day.     

基于土壤线虫群落分析的油页岩废渣地不同植被类型恢复过程中的土壤食物网能流状况

土壤健康与生态系统功能是当前生态学研究的重要课题。土壤线虫是评价生态系统健康状况的指示生物,特别是用于评价土壤污染和恢复的过程。对广东茂名油页岩废渣场人工实施不同生态恢复改造状况下的土壤线虫属的重要值及土壤线虫反映的土壤食物网能量通道进行了分析,以通过污染地土壤食物网内的能量流动状况反映种植不同植物物种相同时间后的土壤养分与健康状况。结果表明在废渣场种植不同植物物种约8年后,乌墨林和大叶相思林下土壤线虫类群数(属)分别为54和45,重要值最高的是食细菌的棱咽属(Prismatolaimus)和拟丽突属(Acrobeloides);而红荷林和荒草地的线虫类群数分别为41和38,重要值最高的是杂食性的真矛线属(Eudorylaimus);废渣地线虫属的数量最少,仅为34个,重要值最高的是食真菌的丝尾垫刃属(Filenchus)和滑刃属(Aphelenchoides)。食物网能流分析表明:细菌能流通道比重最高的是大叶相思林和乌墨林,而真菌能流通道比重最高的是废渣地,红荷林和荒草地居中,各样地植物能流通道比重都比较小,仅为2%—10%之间。总体来讲,在有植被覆盖的生态系统,养分周转更快,特别是乌墨和大叶相思林,而无植被的废渣地,土壤养分周转速率倾向于更慢的真菌能流通道,这表明在养分条件比较差的情况下,真菌通道的食物网可能会起更大的作用。研究还说明了在油页岩废弃地恢复过程中,植物资源的输入不仅仅刺激植物能流通道,同时也会刺激细菌和真菌能流通道,植被是土壤线虫群落发展的主要驱动力。     

Spatial and temporal distribution of endemic entomopathogenic nematodes in a heterogeneous vegetable production landscape

Entomopathogenic nematodes within the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae (Order: Rhabditida) are potential biological control agents for many soil-dwelling vegetable pests. However, their low persistence and efficacy after field releases have resulted in limited use in pest management programs. Understanding the factors regulating natural populations of entomopathogenic nematodes may provide insight into practices to conserve populations within production systems. A series of investigations were conducted within a vegetable production area in Willard, Ohio during 2000–2003 to gain insight into the population ecology of endemic populations of entomopathogenic nematodes. A total of 440 sites across four habitats associated with the production landscape were sampled to ascertain the natural occurrence of these beneficial nematodes. Habitats included cultivated areas, grassy banks adjacent to cultivated areas, undisturbed shrub lands and forests. Twelve sites along grassy banks were monitored over a growing season to estimate associations between abiotic and biotic factors and endemic populations. Entomopathogenic nematodes were only detected along grassy banks adjacent to the cultivated areas; nematodes were recovered from 15 to 30% of sites sampled in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Two species of nematodes were isolated, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar and Steinernema feltiae Filipjev. H. bacteriophora was the most prevalent nematode species and was recovered from 60% of positive samples. Nematode populations varied temporally and spatially along grassy banks; mean population density over the growing period was 1313 infective juveniles/m². Neither macro- nor microarthropod communities nor soil temperature differed between sites at which nematodes were detected and those at which nematodes were not detected. Soil moisture, however, was associated with the occurrence and persistence of nematodes along grassy banks; mean soil moisture at sites at which nematodes were detected and those sites at which nematodes were not detected was 37.3 and 26.8%, respectively. Water management is an important component of vegetable production and our results suggest that soil moisture manipulation would be important in the establishment and sustained presence of entomopathogenic nematode populations within cultivated areas over the growing season.     

捕食线虫真菌在北京地区果园中的季节性分布

通过对北京海淀区2个苹果园和2个葡萄园根际捕食线虫真菌2年的季节性变化调查,共分离到199个捕食线虫真菌菌株,隶属3个属16个种,Arthrobotrysdactyloides分离频率最高,其次是A.oligospora,A.conoides和Stylopagesp.。捕食线虫真菌的数量在晚春夏初最丰富,秋季次之,冬夏最少。通过统计分析,捕食线虫真菌数量的季节性变化与温度线性相关,而与线虫总数S形相关,与土壤湿度和植物寄生线虫数量无显著相关。     

Steinernema feltiae (DD-136) and S. glaseri: Persistence in Soil and Bark Compost and Their Influence on Native Nematodes

Infective juveniles (J3) of the entomogenous nematodes Steinernema feltiae DD-136 (ca. 10,000 J3/100 ml) and S. glaseri (ca. 2,500 J3/100 ml) were incubated in steam-sterilized and nonsterilized sandy soil and bark compost for 8 weeks at 25 C. The nematodes were recovered by a two-step extraction procedure at 1-week intervals, and their infectivity to lepidopterous larvae (Spodoptera litura and Galleria mellonella) and their effect on the population and community of native nematodes in soil were determined. Survival of inoculated nematodes and mortality of insects were enhanced in sterilized media. Nonsterilized bark compost proved to be equally as suitable a medium as sterilized compost. In nonsterilized soil, the survival curve of S.feltiae declined more rapidly than that or S. glaseri which was less infective to insects despite its greater persistence even in nonsterilized soil. Soon after the addition of steinernematids to soil, the population of native nematodes showed a fluctuation with an increase in rhabditids and a decrease in other kinds of nematodes.     

Efficacy of 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane for Control of Meloidogyne javanica as Influenced by Concentration,Exposure Time and Rate of Degradation

Laboratory experiments were conducted by applying 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) to sealed vials of soil infested with Meloidogyne javanica. A minimum initial concentration of 0.25 μg of DBCP/g of oven-dry soil killed all nematodes within 35 days. A concentration of 1.0 μg/g killed all nematodes within 28 days. The rate of degradation of this chemical was determined by treatment of steamed and nonsteamed dry soil in open and sealed vials. Extraction of tile chemical, followed by quantification by gas chromatography, showed approximately 100% of the amount applied recovered after 14 days in sealed vials without soil. With soil present, approximately 10% of the amount of chemical applied was recovered.     

食真菌线虫对热或铜胁迫下土壤生态功能稳定性的影响

在模拟胁迫条件下(施加 CuSO₄ 的持续胁迫或加热40 ℃的瞬时胁迫),以大麦叶粉短期分解过程代表土壤功能,采用室内培养试验研究了土壤食真菌线虫(Aphelenchus avenae)与微生物的相互作用对土壤生态功能稳定性(抗性和恢复力)的影响.结果表明：无论施加胁迫与否,食真菌线虫的活动都有促进土壤微生物活性的趋势,尤其是在施加铜胁迫后第8 天开始到培养期结束,接种食真菌线虫导致土壤基础呼吸显著增加(P<0.05),但加热胁迫后食真菌线虫对土壤基础呼吸的促进作用仅在第8天有显著差异(P<0.05),反映了食真菌线虫对土壤微生物活性的影响程度与胁迫类型有关.在两种胁迫条件下,接种食真菌线虫对土壤功能的抗性没有影响,但都能促进胁迫条件下土壤功能的恢复.培养后期,两种胁迫条件下接种食真菌线虫处理真菌生物量低于未接种线虫处理,表明胁迫条件下食真菌线虫对真菌的取食可能限制甚至抑制了真菌生长,导致真菌对细菌的竞争压力减少,从而使细菌获得更大的生长优势,间接促进了细菌的生长.     

Aphid effects on rhizosphere microorganisms and microfauna depend more on barley growth phase than on soil fertilization

This paper gives the first reports on aphid effects on rhizosphere organisms as influenced by soil nutrient status and plant development. Barley plants grown in pots fertilized with N but without P (N), with N and P (NP), or not fertilized (0) were sampled in the early growth phase (day 25), 1 week before and 1 week after spike emergence. Aphids were added 16 days before sampling was carried out. In a separate experiment belowground respiration was measured on N and NP fertilized plant–soil systems with aphid treatments comparable to the first experiment. Aphids reduced numbers of rhizosphere bacteria and fungal feeding nematodes 1 week before spike emergence. Before spike emergence, aphids reduced belowground respiration in NP treatments. These findings strongly indicate that aphids reduced allocation of photoassimilates to roots and deposition of root exudates in the growth phase of the plant. Contrary to this, 1 week after spike emergence numbers of bacteria, fungal feeding nematodes and Protozoa were higher in rhizospheres of plants subjected to aphids probably because aphids enhanced root mortality and root decomposition. Protozoa and bacterial feeding nematodes were stimulated at different experimental conditions with nematodes being the dominant bacterial grazers at N fertilization and Protozoa in the NP treatment before spike emergence.     

Effects of defoliation intensity on soil food-web properties in an experimental grassland community

We established a greenhouse experiment based on replicated mini‐ecosystems to evaluate the effects of defoliation intensity on soil food‐web properties in grasslands. Plant communities, composed of white clover (Trifolium repens), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata) with well‐established root and shoot systems, were subjected to five defoliation intensity treatments: no trimming (defoliation intensity 0, or DI 0), and trimming of all plant material to 35 cm (DI 1), 25 cm (DI 2), 15 cm (DI 3) and 10 cm (DI 4) above soil surface every second week for 14 weeks. Intensification of defoliation reduced shoot production and standing shoot and root mass of plant communities but increased their root to shoot ratio. Soil microbial activity and biomass decreased with intensification of defoliation. Concentrations of NO₃–N in soil steadily increased with intensifying defoliation, whereas NH₄–N concentrations did not vary between treatments. Numbers of microbi‐detritivorous enchytraeids, bacterial‐feeding rotifers and bacterial‐feeding nematodes steadily increased with intensifying defoliation, while the abundance of fungal‐feeding nematodes was significantly enhanced only in DI 3 and DI 4 relative to DI 0. The abundance of herbivorous nematodes per unit soil mass was lower in DI 3 and DI 4 than in DI 0, DI 1 and DI 2, but when calculated per unit root mass, their abundance tended to increase with defoliation intensity. The abundance of omnivorous and predatory nematodes appeared to be highest in the most intensely defoliated systems. The ratio of abundance of fungal‐feeding nematodes to that of bacterial‐feeding nematodes was not significantly affected by defoliation intensity. The results infer that defoliation intensity may significantly alter the structure of soil food webs in grasslands, and that defoliation per se is able to induce patterns observed in grazing studies in the field. The results did not support hypotheses that defoliation per se would cause a shift between the bacterial‐based and fungal‐based energy channels in the decomposer food web, or that herbivore and detritivore densities in soil would be highest under intermediate defoliation. Furthermore, our data for microbes and microbial feeders implies that the effects of defoliation intensity on soil food‐web structure may depend on the duration of defoliation and are therefore likely to be dynamic rather than constant in nature.