"Nematodes, with a simple, tubular body form are the most abundant multicellular animals on earth. Freshwater nematodes are central in the context of environmental monitoring, pollution assessments, global warming and food chain complexes, and this is increasingly being recognised"--.

• Cover
• Ecology of Freshwater Nematodes
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of Contributors
• Preface
• 1 Introduction to Freshwater Nematodes in Ecology: Current Knowledge and Research
  • 1.1 A Short Summary of Nematode Morphology and Reproduction
  • 1.2 What Is the Role of Nematodes in Freshwater Ecosystems?
    • 1.2.1 A brief history and definition of ecology
    • 1.2.2 Distribution and dispersal of free-living nematodes
    • 1.2.3 Role of free-living nematodes in food webs
  • 1.3 Why This Book?
    • 1.3.1 The relevance of ecology in nematology
    • 1.3.2 An overview of the book’s content
  • 1.4 Species Diversity and an Overview of Nematode Classification
    • 1.4.1 Torquentia Andrássy, 1974
      • Monhysterida De Coninck & Schuurmans Stekhoven, 1933
      • Chromadorida Chitwood, 1933
    • 1.4.2 Secernentia Linstow, 1905
      • Rhabditida Chitwood, 1933
      • Aphelenchida Siddiqi, 1980
      • Tylenchida Thorne, 1949
    • 1.4.3 Penetrantia Andrássy, 1974
      • Enoplida Filipjev, 1929
      • Mononchida Jairajpuri, 1969
      • Dorylaimida Pearse, 1942
      • Mermithida Hyman, 1951
  • References
• 2 Sampling and Processing of Freshwater Nematodes with Emphasis on Molecular Methods
  • 2.1 Introduction
  • 2.2 Sampling
  • 2.3 Preservation
  • 2.4 Extraction
    • 2.4.1 Sieving
    • 2.4.2 Decanting
    • 2.4.3 Flotation
  • 2.5 Counting
  • 2.6 Morphological Identification
  • 2.7 Molecular Identification of Nematodes
    • 2.7.1 Single-specimen DNA extraction
    • 2.7.2 Community DNA extraction
    • 2.7.3 eDNA extraction
  • 2.8 Amplification of Specific Gene Fragments: PCR
  • 2.9 Sequencing
  • 2.10 Processing
  • 2.11 Annotation
  • 2.12 Applications of Molecular Methods
    • 2.12.1 Description of new species
    • 2.12.2 Cryptic species and genetic distances
    • 2.12.3 Phylogeny
  • 2.13 Conclusions and Perspectives
  • References
• 3 Species Composition and Distribution of Free-living Nematodes in Lakes and Streams
  • 3.1 Introduction
  • 3.2 Nematode Communities in Lentic Ecosystems
    • 3.2.1 Background: lentic ecosystems
    • 3.2.2 Species richness, abundance, biomass
    • 3.2.3 Responses of species and feeding type composition to habitat type and trophic state
  • 3.3 Nematode Communities in Lotic Ecosystems
    • 3.3.1 Background: lotic ecosystems
    • 3.3.2 Species richness and abundance patterns
    • 3.3.3 Biomass, comparison with lakes
    • 3.3.4 Feeding types
    • 3.3.5 Species distribution
  • 3.4 Drivers of Variability in Species Composition
    • 3.4.1 Abiotic factors
      • 3.4.1.1 Habitat texture
      • 3.4.1.2 Flow rate
      • 3.4.1.3 Temperature
      • 3.4.1.4 Water chemistry, nutrients, and organic matter
      • 3.4.1.5 Oxygen and vertical distribution of nematodes in the sediment
      • 3.4.1.6 Water depth in lakes
    • 3.4.2 Biotic factors
      • 3.4.2.1 Primary producers: microphytobenthos and macrophytes
      • 3.4.2.2 Heterotrophic microbes
      • 3.4.2.3 Interspecific competition
      • 3.4.2.4 Predation
  • 3.5 From Microscopic to Worldwide Patterns in Species Composition
    • 3.5.1 Micro-distribution
    • 3.5.2 Local- and regional-scale patterns
    • 3.5.3 Global-scale patterns
    • 3.5.4 Do nematodes have a ubiquitous distribution?
  • 3.6 Conclusions and Perspectives
  • References
• 4 Nematodes from Extreme and Unusual Freshwater Habitats
  • 4.1 Introduction
  • 4.2 Springs
    • 4.2.1 Hot or thermal springs
    • 4.2.2 Low-oxygen springs
    • 4.2.3 Mineral springs
    • 4.2.4 Freshwater springs
  • 4.3 High-latitude Freshwaters
    • 4.3.1 Subpolar islands
    • 4.3.2 Polar freshwaters
    • 4.3.3 Permafrost
  • 4.4 Estuarine Sediments
  • 4.5 Seasonal and Temporary Freshwaters
  • 4.6 Bromeliads and Tree Hollows
  • 4.7 Stemflow
  • 4.8 Groundwaters
    • 4.8.1 Caves
    • 4.8.2 Other subterranean freshwater environments
  • 4.9 Marine Nematodes in Freshwater Environments
  • 4.10 Inland Hypersaline Waters
  • 4.11 Conclusions and Perspectives
  • References
• 5 Dispersal of Free-living Nematodes
  • 5.1 Introduction
  • 5.2 Emigration
  • 5.3 Transfer: Active Dispersal
    • 5.3.1 Locomotion
    • 5.3.2 The role of active movement for nematode distribution
  • 5.4 Transfer: Passive Dispersal
    • 5.4.1 Morphological adaptions
    • 5.4.2 Water drift
    • 5.4.3 Rafting
    • 5.4.4 Zoochory
      • 5.4.4.1 Endozoochory
      • 5.4.4.2 Epizoochory
    • 5.4.5 Human-mediated transfer
    • 5.4.6 Wind dispersal
  • 5.5 Immigration
    • 5.5.1 The development of nematode communities
      • 5.5.1.1 In terms of density
      • 5.5.1.2 In terms of species composition
    • 5.5.2 The role of biotic interactions
      • 5.5.2.1 Predation, competition, and indirect effects
      • 5.5.2.2 Priority effects
  • 5.6 Conclusions and Perspectives
  • References
• 6 Feeding Ecology of Free-living Nematodes
  • 6.1 Introduction
  • 6.2 The Feeding Type Classifications of Free-living Nematodes
  • 6.3 Particulate versus Dissolved Food
  • 6.4 Abiotic and Biotic Constraints on Nematode Feeding
  • 6.5 Living in an Information-rich Context: Food Recognition
  • 6.6 Feeding Selectivity and Intraguild Diversity
  • 6.7 Complex Interactions between Nematodes, Their (Microbial) Resources, and Microbially Driven Ecosystem Processes
  • 6.8 Measuring Feeding Rates: An Overview of Methodologies
  • 6.9 Conclusions and Perspectives
  • References
• 7 Role of Nematodes in the Food Web: Nematodes as Predator and Prey
  • 7.1 Introduction
  • 7.2 Nematodes, a Nutritious Meal?
  • 7.3 Investigating the Trophic Interactions of Nematodes
    • 7.3.1 Gut content analysis and observations of feeding behavior
    • 7.3.2 Functional response assessments
    • 7.3.3 Functional response assessments using nematodes
    • 7.3.4 Impact of the sediment on predation
    • 7.3.5 Experimental settings using microcosms and enclosures/exclosures
  • 7.4 Nematodes as Predators
  • 7.5 Nematodes as Prey
    • 7.5.1 Nematodes as prey for protozoans
    • 7.5.2 Nematodes as prey for invertebrates (meio- and macrofauna)
    • 7.5.3 Impact of invertebrate predation on natural nematode communities
    • 7.5.4 Nematodes as prey for vertebrates
    • 7.5.5 Impact of predation by juvenile fish on natural nematode communities
    • 7.5.6 Long-term effects of predation on nematode population dynamics
  • 7.6 Conclusions and Perspectives
  • References
• 8 Production of Freshwater Nematodes
  • 8.1 Introduction
  • 8.2 Measuring Nematode Production
    • 8.2.1 Sampling and measuring nematodes
    • 8.2.2 Estimating secondary production
      • 8.2.2.1 Banse and Mosher’s model
      • 8.2.2.2 Vranken et al.’s model
      • 8.2.2.3 Plante and Downing’s model
      • 8.2.2.4 Schmid-Araya et al.’s model
  • 8.3 Secondary Production of Nematodes: A Case Study
  • 8.4 Nematode Production in Relation to the Environment
    • 8.4.1 Across-habitat comparisons of secondary production
    • 8.4.2 Temporal variation of production
    • 8.4.3 Spatial variation of production
  • 8.5 Production by Nematodes vs. Other Benthic Organisms
  • 8.6 Conclusions and Perspectives
  • References
• 9 Freshwater Nematodes in Metacommunity Studies
  • 9.1 Introduction
  • 9.2 Metacommunity Theory
    • 9.2.1 The general concept
    • 9.2.2 The influence of dispersal-based processes
      • 9.2.2.1 On community structure
      • 9.2.2.2 On biodiversity
  • 9.3 Methods in Metacommunity Analyses
    • 9.3.1 Environment vs. space
    • 9.3.2 Metacommunity pattern detection
    • 9.3.3 Diversity patterns
    • 9.3.4 Testing neutrality
    • 9.3.5 Data type
    • 9.3.6 Spatial variables
  • 9.4 Studying Freshwater Nematodes in a Metacommunity Framework
    • 9.4.1 The influence of dispersal processes on metacommunity structure
    • 9.4.2 The influence of niche-based processes on metacommunity structure
    • 9.4.3 Stochastic and temporal dynamics in nematode metacommunities
    • 9.4.4 The influence of dispersal and niche-based processes on biodiversity
  • 9.5 Comparisons with Other Freshwater Organism Groups
  • 9.6 Conclusions and Perspectives
  • References
• 10 Single- and Multi-species Toxicity Testing with Nematodes
  • 10.1 Introduction
  • 10.2 Environmental Risk Assessments of Chemicals
  • 10.3 Suitability of Nematodes for Ecotoxicological Studies
    • 10.3.1 Sediment as natural habitat
    • 10.3.2 Accrued knowledge
    • 10.3.3 Easy culturing and standardization
  • 10.4 Single-species Tests
    • 10.4.1 Nematodes as test organisms
    • 10.4.2 Standardization (ISO 10872)
    • 10.4.3 Testing of chemical substances using C. elegans
    • 10.4.4 Sensitivity of C. elegans
    • 10.4.5 Testing of environmental samples with C. elegans
  • 10.5 Model Ecosystems
  • 10.6 Conclusions and Perspectives
  • References
• 11 Freshwater Nematodes as Bioindicators in Field Studies – The NemaSPEAR[%]-index
  • 11.1 Introduction
  • 11.2 Quality Assessments of Freshwater Ecosystems
  • 11.3 Suitability of Nematodes for Ecotoxicological Studies
  • 11.4 Community-level Assessments
    • 11.4.1 NemaSPEAR[%]-index
    • 11.4.2 Case studies using NemaSPEAR
  • 11.5 Conclusions and Perspectives
  • References
• 12 Case Studies with Nematodes from the Individual to Ecosystem Level
  • 12.1 Introduction
  • 12.2 Case Study 1: Life Cycle Experiments Can Reveal the Life History Traits of Nematodes and the Responses of Nematode Individuals and Cohorts to Contamination
    • 12.2.1 What is a life cycle experiment and what information can it provide?
    • 12.2.2 Presentation of case study 1
    • 12.2.3 Possibilities and limitations
  • 12.3 Case Study 2: Population Growth and Competition
    • 12.3.1 What is a population growth experiment and what information can it provide?
    • 12.3.2 Presentation of case study 2
    • 12.3.3 Possibilities and limitations
      • 12.3.3.1 Counting of nematodes
      • 12.3.3.2 Resource levels
      • 12.3.3.3 Starting population
  • 12.4 Case Study 3: Molecular and Microscopic Identification of a Nematode Community
    • 12.4.1 What is metabarcoding and what information can it provide?
    • 12.4.2 Presentation of case study 3
    • 12.4.3 Possibilities and limitations
  • 12.5 Case Study 4: The Role of Nematodes in the Benthic Food Web
    • 12.5.1 What role do nematodes play in the benthic food web?
    • 12.5.2 Presentation of case study 4
    • 12.5.3 Possibilities and limitations
  • References
• Index
• Back Cover