Species composition and structure of the nematode communities of epiphytic mosses in the Left-bank Polesie (Ukraine)

Abstract

Species and generic composition of nematode communities from the epiphytic mosses in the Left-bank Polesie were studied. Nematodes were extracted by a modified Baermann’s method. A total of 47 species was found and they belonged to 34 genera, 21 families and 8 orders. The average number of nematodes was 4077 per 100 g of the moss. Rhabditida, Tylenchida, Plectida and Dorylaimida composed had more species richness (12, 10, 8 and 7 species, respectively). Species of these four orders comprised 78.7%. Representatives of three order Plectida, Dorylaimida and Monhysterida were the most numerous within the considered communities (proportion in the communities were 40.75, 21.30 and 18.65%, respectively). The majority of the identified species were subrecedent (31 or 65.95% of species composition) and accidental species (37 or 78.72%). Three species: Plectus parietinus Bastian, 1865, Mesodorylaimus bastiani Bütschli, 1873 and Geomonhystera villosa Bütschli, 1873 composed the core of nematode communities from epiphytic mosses in the Left-bank Polesie. They were found in 70.21, 57.45 and 53.19% of the samples, proportion in the community of 15.21, 10.03 and 17.96%, respectively.