Are Soil Nematode Communities Altered by Tree Introduction and Prolonged Cultivation in the Subarctic Region?

Introduced tree species in the Solovetsky Islands' botanical garden exhibit significantly higher nematode taxonomic diversity and abundance, particularly plant parasites, compared to natural forests. This study reveals that prolonged cultivation alters soil nematode communities, with ecological indices showing inconsistent responses to these changes. Notably, a positive correlation exists between soil carbon and nitrogen content and the abundance of plant-parasitic nematodes, while fungal feeders are negatively correlated with C:N ratios. Additionally, soil pH influences taxonomic diversity and bacterial feeder abundance. The discovery of Steinernema affine in Russia underscores the ecological significance of these findings.

Kalinkina, D. S., Sushchuk, A. A., & Matveeva, E. M. (2024). Are Soil Nematode Communities Altered by Tree Introduction and Prolonged Cultivation in the Subarctic Region? Contemporary Problems of Ecology, 17(4), 514–531. https://doi.org/10.1134/s1995425524700318