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Spatial distribution of bacterivorous nematodes in a Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) site
Author(s) -
Liang Wenju,
Jiang Yong,
Li Qi,
Liu Yanjun,
Wen Dazhong
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/s11284-005-0058-5
Subject(s) - spatial distribution , bacterivore , biology , geostatistics , ecosystem , ecology , spatial ecology , riffle , spatial variability , nematode , mathematics , statistics , habitat
Abstract Geostatistics was applied to assess the spatial distribution of bacterivorous nematodes in a Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) site in northeast China. A 42×30 m plot was divided into grids with 7×5 m spacing that included 49 sampling points. Soil samples were collected from depths of 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm. The results showed that Cephalobus and Panagrolaimus were the most dominant bacterivores, which together represented 74 and 82% of total bacterivorous nematodes on average at depths of 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm, respectively. Within‐site variability was high for these nematode genera. Geostatistical analysis indicated that a major part of this variability was spatially dependent; variograms suggest that 55–100% of sample population variance was related to spatial autocorrelation over ranges of 9–91 m. The mean numbers of total bacterivores and Panagrolaimus populations were higher at 0–10 cm depth than at 10–20 cm depth. Between the two depths, different distribution patterns were found for Panagrolaimus , whereas similar patterns were found for Cephalobus . The maps obtained by kriging well illustrated horizontal distribution patterns of bacterivorous nematodes at two depths at field scale.