New nematode records from the Bakwena Cave, South Africa

Surveys forming part of the Bakwena-cave project were carried out from January 2009 to February 2010 at Bakwena Cave, South Africa. The main aim of these nematode surveys were: 1) to contribute to the biodiversity of the Bakwena Cave and 2) to increase our current knowledge and understanding of non-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:South African journal of plant and soil 2011-01, Vol.28 (4), p.250-250
Main Authors: van Rensburg, CJ, Bert, W, Swart, A, Decraemer, W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological diversity
caves
Diploscapter
Habitat
Nematoda
nematodes
omnivores
Panagrolaimus
Soil
Species diversity
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Summary:Surveys forming part of the Bakwena-cave project were carried out from January 2009 to February 2010 at Bakwena Cave, South Africa. The main aim of these nematode surveys were: 1) to contribute to the biodiversity of the Bakwena Cave and 2) to increase our current knowledge and understanding of non-parasitic nematodes from South Africa, since these non-parasitic nematodes have received little attention in recent years. Nematodes were collected from six localities, representing different habitats, which were situated between the cave entrance and a pool 30 m underground. A total of 27 nematode genera belonging to 23 families were collected, with 19 genera being reported for the first time from cave environments. The underground pool showed the highest species diversity of the six localities, with lowest diversity associated with fresh and dry guano deposits. Bacteriovores were most abundant being found from four of the sampling localities, the remaining two localities comprised of fungal feeders, obligate and facultative plant feeders and omnivores. A number of species were taxonomically described during the study including Diploscapter coronatus and Panagrolaimus n. sp. This nematological study represents the first of its kind from South Africa and also provides additional information to the study of nematodes from cave environments worldwide.
ISSN:0257-1862