maturity index: an ecological measure of environmental disturbance based on nematode species composition

Nematode assemblages constitute a potential instrument for assessing the quality of submersed, temporarily submersed, and terrestrial soils and for the development of an ecological typology and biomonitoring system. Interpretation of physical or pollution-induced disturbances has hitherto mainly bee...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oecologia 1990-01, Vol.83 (1), p.14-19
Main Author: Bongers, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
ecology
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
environmental factors
Fauna
free-living nematodes
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Invertebrates
Laboratorium voor Nematologie
Laboratory of Nematology
Nematoda
Nematodes
Ocean pollution
Plant parasitic nematodes
population density
Sedimentary soils
Soil ecology
Soil nematodes
Soil pollution
Soil quality
soil structure
Species
Terrestrial environment, soil, air
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Summary:Nematode assemblages constitute a potential instrument for assessing the quality of submersed, temporarily submersed, and terrestrial soils and for the development of an ecological typology and biomonitoring system. Interpretation of physical or pollution-induced disturbances has hitherto mainly been based on changes in diversity, dominance patterns or percentage of dorylaimids (Adenophorea). The maturity index, based on the nematode fauna, is proposed as a gauge of the condition of the soil ecosystem. Values on a coloniser/persister scale are given for nematodes that occur in The Netherlands. The possibilities of the use of this index are demonstrated by a retrospective interpretation of some literature data. The use of nematodes in environmental studies is discussed.
ISSN:0029-8549
1432-1939
DOI:10.1007/bf00324627