Role of nematodes in decomposition processes: does within-trophic group diversity matter?

The importance of biodiversity for the functioning of ecosystems is still very unclear. Many hypotheses, mainly based on terrestrial studies, have been formulated, focussing on the plant diversity-productivity relationship. In this study, diversity-related and species-specific effects of bacterivorous nematodes on the decomposition rate of cordgrass detritus Spartina anglica and on the associated microbial community were investigated using laboratory microcosm experiments. Four bacterivorous nematode species ( Diplolaimelloides meyli, Diplolaimelloides oschei, Diplolaimella dievengatensis and... Mehr ...