The importance of fine-scale, vertical profiles in characterising nematode community structure

The spatial heterogeneity of the nematode community on an intertidal flat (the Molenplaat) in the Westerschelde estuary (SW Netherlands) has been investigated. The extent to which macroscale (km) variability was more important than microscale (m) variability was tested. In addition, the importance of vertical distribution profile in the sediment in explaining the horizontal macroscale variability was evaluated. Differences in the structure of the community were analysed at a kilometre scale at three sites that differed in chemico-physical features. The differences in geochemical and physical c... Mehr ...