Roles of nematodes in ecosystems: Their biology and ecology
Ferris, H.; van der Putten, W.H.; Yeates, G.W.; Moens, T. (2026). Roles of nematodes in ecosystems: Their biology and ecology, in: Kakouli-Duarte, T. et al.[s.d.] Nematodes as environmental indicators: From theory to practice. pp. 1-36. https://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9781800624221.0001
In: Kakouli-Duarte, T. et al. (2026). Nematodes as environmental indicators: From theory to practice. 2nd Edition. CABI International: Oxfordshire. ISBN 9781800624207. 376 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9781800624221.0000
The organisms of soil and aquatic food webs perform ecological functions and services that are essential for life on Earth. Nematodes, the most abundant multicellular animals on the planet, are prevalent in terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems. Humans have likely been aware of the indicator characteristics of nematodes since before recorded history, first as human and animal parasites by their presence in faeces, skin lesions and sputum, and progressively, with improvements in microscopy, as free-living soil and aquatic forms. The abundance and diversity of nematodes with different feeding habits and ecological functions in soil systems, for example, indicate resource availability and the favourability of environmental conditions. Because of their diversity and ubiquity, nematodes are convenient indicators of similar functions performed by other organisms in their environment. In this chapter we provide insights into the biological and ecological properties of nematodes that underlie their usefulness as environmental indicators.
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