Across southwest China and Thailand, plant turnover and nematode body width help explain soil diversity
Soils harbor some of the most diverse life on Earth. Soil nematodes play crucial roles in maintaining ecosystem functions. Yet how their diversity changes across large landscapes, and what drives those changes, remains poorly understood.
In southwest China and Thailand, soil nematode diversity is closely tied to plant community turnover and nematode body width, according to a recent study. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, examined soil samples from seven undisturbed forest plots across different forest types. Tropical rainforests exhibited the highest nematode diversity, and this diversity consistently increased with plant β-diversity across various feeding types.
The study found that nematode body width, rather than length, played a key role in determining community assembly, suggesting it may limit dispersal. The findings highlight the importance of protecting plant species to preserve nematode diversity and underline the connection between aboveground and belowground biodiversity.
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