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VOL. 10, ISSUE 1 (2025)
Habitat-specific differences in soil nematode diversity and community and their entomopathogenic activity
Authors
Biswas Mausamee Manoj, Chavan Pallavi N, Barde Ravi D
Abstract
Soil nematodes are essential components of
terrestrial ecosystems, playing critical roles in nutrient cycling, soil
structure formation, and ecosystem functioning. They also act as bioindicators,
reflecting soil health and ecological changes due to their sensitivity to
environmental factors. Studying soil nematode biodiversity is crucial for
understanding their roles in nutrient cycling, ecosystem functioning, and their
responses to environmental changes and importantly their entomopathogenic
activity. It also provides insights into soil health and helps develop
sustainable land management practices. This study explores the diversity and
community composition of soil nematodes across grassland, shrub, and forest
habitats at S.R.T.M. University, Nanded, Maharashtra, India. A total of 58
genera, representing 11 orders, were identified using morphological and
molecular techniques. The nematode community composition varied significantly
among habitats, with bacterial feeders dominant in shrubs, fungal feeders in
grasslands, and predatory nematodes in forests. The findings highlight the
ecological importance of nematodes as bioindicators of soil health and
underscore the need for integrated methodologies to enhance taxonomic accuracy
and biodiversity assessment. In terms of nematode diversity, nematodes of the
order Dorylaimida were found to be the most diverse 40% followed by Tylenchida
25%, Rhabditida 16%, Mononchida 6%, Aphelenchida, Chromadorida Monhysterida and
Plectida with 3.5% each. The entomopathogenic activity of isolated nematodes
namely Eudorylaimus, Thornenema, Mylonchulus, Nygolaimus and Oionchus were
recorded against the insect larva and revealed that about 8.62% of the isolated
nematodes having moderate entomopathogenic activity.
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Pages:58-63
How to cite this article:
Biswas Mausamee Manoj, Chavan Pallavi N, Barde Ravi D "Habitat-specific differences in soil nematode diversity and community and their entomopathogenic activity". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 10, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 58-63
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